Airmen volunteer blood for the greater good Published Aug. 28, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Jelani Gibson 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A plethora of tubes, needles and clenched fists littered the atmosphere of the Airman's Club here Aug. 20-22, as Airmen decided to give blood to the American Red Cross. Airmen volunteered their veins for 45 minutes at a time on hospital litters as more than 1000 units of blood drained from their arms The Red Cross, an organization that provides service through disaster relief, military family support, blood donations, health services and international aid, is the nation's largest single supplier of blood products. Some of the Airmen there had a personal stake in what was going on. The wife of Staff Sgt. Seth Harris, a 366th Training Squadron military training leader, needed a blood transfusion shortly after the birth of his newborn child. "They take care of us and we take care of them," he said. "There are a lot of people out there motivated to help others." Kelly Carlin, a donor recruitment representative for the Red Cross, is responsible for finding suitable locations for blood drives and enjoys the reception she receives at Sheppard every time she does donations on base. "They were friendly, kind and willing to help," she said. "They make you feel very at-home." Some of the services the Red Cross performs for the military are emergency communications for family members, support to wounded veterans, resiliency training and local community support. Carlin, for the foreseeable future, considers her job one-of-a-kind and couldn't see herself doing anything else. "It takes a special person to do what I do," she said. "I love what I do and I'm going to continue doing it."