by David Conrad, Robertson Blood Center

FORT HOOD (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas – The Armed Services Blood Program’s Robertson Blood Center’s blood mobile recently shifted its focus from blood to screams to the delight of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center’s family members attending this year’s Trunk or Treat festival.

Normally used to collect lifesaving products for onsite blood donations, the center’s Soldiers and civilians converted the blood mobile into a haunted “chamber of horrors, which was the highlight of CRDAMC’s Halloween celebration. The bus was a bit intense for some, according to event officials, but most visitors enjoyed the experience, especially the candy.

“It was great!” said Maj. Ellen Jones, who accompanied her Batman-dressed son through the bus. “He was a little freaked out, but once he got over the initial scare it was fun.”

Meyanna Adams, a CRDAMC employee, agreed.

“It was good,” she said, laughing at the reaction of her nephew when he realized the scarecrow he was looking at wasn’t fake.

The annual event, which was held October 25 within the CRDAMC footprint, was sponsored by CRDAMC

Troop Command’s Family Readiness Group.

“Everyone appreciates having the blood mobile out,” said Army Capt. Isis Rosario, company commander of the Troop command’s Student Detachment.

This year, the Trunk or Treat event included family members from the Medical Support and Warrior Transition Units.

“The event is really to build morale and enhance teamwork,” said Rosario.

Army Spc. Deborah Milutin, a Robertson lab technician, was the team leader for the tricked out bus and said the center’s employees all enjoy contributing to an evening of fun and fright.

“We all contributed a lot of time, effort and candy to making this a fun, memorable event for the kids, but it’s worth it because they have such a good time,” she said, adding the chamber of horrors also spiked visitor’s imagination. “Some of the kids go through the bus multiple times, pretending to use their weapons or superpowers to fend off our monsters.”

At the end of the event, Milutin and her team made short work of the ghosts, goblins and ghouls haunting the bus and prepared to conduct blood drives the following day.

To become a blood donor, visit Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos)’s Robertson Blood Center, located at Bldg. 2250, 761st Tank Battalion Ave. and 57th St. The center is open Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Donors can schedule appointments or walk in. Organizations can schedule blood drives at the center or request a mobile blood drive by calling 254-285-5808 or emailing the donor recruiter at david.m.conrad4.civ@mail.mil.

About the Armed Services Blood Program

Since 1962, the Armed Services Blood Program has served as the sole provider of blood for the United States military. As a tri-service organization, the ASBP collects, processes, stores and distributes blood and blood products to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their families worldwide. As one of four national blood collection organizations trusted to ensure the nation has a safe, potent blood supply, the ASBP works closely with our civilian counterparts by sharing donors on military installations where there are no military blood collection centers and by sharing blood products in times of need to maximize availability of this national treasure.

To find out more about the ASBP or to schedule an appointment to donate, please visitCaution-www.militaryblood.dod.mil < Caution-http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil > . To interact directly with ASBP staff members, see more photos or get the latest news, follow @militaryblood on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and Pinterest. Find the drop. Donate.