Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1940-03-07
VOL WE I, NUMBER 9

ii
VOLUME l., NUMBER
Late one July evening, In 1898, Greenbelt doctor
made emergency phone call from WASHINGTON hos
p1tal to Greenbelt resident whom he had taken
preliminary steps toward interesting his fellow
toWnsmen in estab1i shing comuni ty Blood Index
The doctor had patient ght need blood trans
fusion urgently; he needed many volunteers as
sadie 80 as to be sure to find among them whose
blood was the same type that of the patient "a
TRANSMISSION of blood of different type might be
fatal to the patiently
Herous ". v. Letkemann. the Greenbelt resident
jumped at the chance to demonstrate the value of the
Blood Index. In short order, by the use of his
telephone, his feet, and that turned up, he
collected fourteen volunteers and together they
went into Washington, had their blood typed, and
we're ready to give the TRANSMISSION if needed.
Fortunately 1t was not needed.
Parttcu larly fortunate was it that the trans
fusion had not been needed during the the
rounding up Of the squad of volunteers and the
tipping OF their b1oods had taken, the time that
would nave been needed to obtain the blood if an
Index OF volunteers with the di fferent types had
been made up beforehand. This fact was striking
" made evident to those original fourteen volw-
teers, who Immediately added their influence toward
the establi sfment Of the Greenbelt Blood Index.
Under the leadership Of Mr.. Letkemarm, With Gil
bert E. Lewis, c. R. Van Leuven, and John L. Per-
ns as techndcians about one-tenth of Greenbel It's
adult population had its blood typed, and indexed;
eighteen transfusions have been given Since their
Ssrs hssn c+eenoe s' b. serenoerg and Still
being done under the supervision Of the Health As
ISOLATION doctors.
the idea being a cooperative one--men and women
helping another in each others time of need.
But this help has not been limited to those VINO
volunteer their own blood. All, those who offer
their blood and those who do not have been
aged to have their blood typed against the day
they might need TRANSMISSION. Thus this project is
praiseworthy example both of mselftsh social
vice and OF the e1i ghtened self1nterest that
acterizes all truly cooperative activity.
The keeping Of the records, the handling of the
tipping clinics, the rounding up Of the volunteers,
at inca
many Of the volunteers lack phone and he lacks an
automobile, this has involved considerable leg work
on Mr.. Letkemams part, at all hours-besides the
considerable routine work required by the pro ect.
Altogether it is community activity for which Mr..
Letkemann deserves much concentration.
The valuable technical work has been cont ributed
by Mr.. Lewis, Mr.. Van Leuven, and Mr. Perkins.
Following those VINO have actually donated
their blood $50 far there have been l8 transfsions
donated by the Index members, representing savings
about 800 the pattents John T.Ahaesy George
F. Bauer, S. Hartford Doms Harry E. Hesse, Herkus
W. v. Letkemam, Albert Meberman, Henry X. Middle
ton, Guy Moore, A. E. Mllin, Lloyd L. Nelson, Price
C. spdvey, Mrs. Price c. Spivey, theodore T. Wilson,
and Aubrey T. Hitcher.
Several volunteers are called for each transfl-
sion The following have responded to such calls, at
all hours, and made their blood available. This
operation on their part, although they have not
tualy contributed transfsions has made them impor
tant contributors to the of the project. The
names:
Mrs. o. Hugh Clark, o. Hugh Clark, John W. Col11-
yer, Sidney H. Deibert, X. R. Doane, Eric R1ndin,
Mrs. Paul Fatherby, George Gale, Vernon Hitchcock,
Arthur N. Gawthrop, Mrs. Ida Guisinger, Mrs. Thomas
Ietkemann, Miriam Hvemore, Richard S. Mark, C. c..
McDouga1, orrin McGo1dr1ck, Forest F. Matthews,
H. ". Miller, Howard R. Moore, George Panagoults,
Dudley F. Peeler, Arthur Plackett, John ". Resnicy,
Mrs. A. Sansone, Mrs. Harry Schmidt, Schwartz,
Joseph Selove, George Talbot, Nyles T. Thomas,
Robert Thompson. C. Ray Van Leuven, Donald Wagstaff
H. W. Weatherby, Rae Weatherby Theodore r. Wilson,
and Margaret Zorach.
Howard C. Custer