Blood donations at Fort Hood save the lives of deployed troops, 13th ESC’s 4th BTB supported a critical blood drive at Fort Hood, Texas

SPC Brandon Neal

FORT HOOD, Texas – “I am blessed enough to wake up and see my kids because someone donated blood,” said Spc. Brandon Neal. “I wouldn’t take that away from anyone else.”

Neal, a former tank crewman and Marine now serving with the 13th Expeditionary Support Command’s 4th Brigade Troops Battalion, visited the Robertson Blood Center to donate blood for his buddies because he personally knows the importance of blood.

“I’ve used Army blood so I want to donate to [the Army Emergency Relief fund],” said Neal.

On July 7, 2007, while deployed in Iraq, the battle tank Neal served on was struck by an explosively formed projectile.  The copper slug, propelled by explosives, blew through the tank’s suspension and entered the hull, partially striking Neal in the head.  Along with a serious traumatic brain injury, the penetrator opened a bleeding wound in his skull.

“Our great medic, Doc Hinojosa, saved my life and gave me a bag and a half of blood,” said Neal.

Although he lost his hearing temporarily and had equilibrium issues to work through, the expert medical treatment he received helped Neal overcome the medical challenges he faced.  He recovered, and soon deployed again, earning yet another Purple Heart.

“I’ve got a bullet scar [in the] front and back and knife scars on my back,” said Neal.  His deployment experiences led the recovering soldier to be a Level IV combative instructor.

“[Neal] is the real deal,” said Sgt. David Luther, the battalion school’s non-commissioned officer and blood drive coordinator.

In fact, Neal wasn’t the only Purple Heart donating at the Robertson Blood Center, Fort Hood, Texas, that day.  According to Luther, “There are a lot of Purple Hearts in this group.”

With 26 appointments scheduled in the blood donor center’s web application (available at www.militaryblood.dod.mil), Luther helped ensure that blood and supplies were available for others like Neal when they need it.

“It saved my life and it could save someone else’s,” said Neal.

To find out more about the Armed Services Blood Program or to make an appointment, please visit us online: www.militaryblood.dod.mil. To interact directly with some of our staff or to get the latest news, visit us here: www.facebook.com/militaryblood.

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