Evening star., 1943-08-01

nadnt peen 1or three pmtS OF
plasma.'
The sailor, wearing the decoration
Of the Order of the Purple Heart for
"gallantry in action" was intro
duced by Rear Admiral H. w. Smith,
Medical Corps Of the Navy. Taking
part in sea battle, Torpedoman
link was on a small torpedo boat
which had sunk two enemy destroy
ers and troop transport before it
was bombed.
Five of Crew Killed.
Five of our crew were killed.
Mr.. link told the audience. Three
of us were thrown overheard. They
took me to a dispensary. I got
plasma twice, got along fine and am
ready for duty again."
He modestly left out of his per-
sonal recital that he had been "se-
verely wounded and was bleeding
profusely' when pitched overheard
by the explosion. He also drifted in
the sea for six hours before rescue.
He credited his recovery to plasma
Admiral Smith said that blood
plasma replaces blood that has been
lost. But" he added, "it is far more
than a makeshift substitute. 1t is
potent remedy in it's own right,
superior to blood itself in treating
most Of the accidents of war.
Wounds and burns not Immediately
fatal threaten life by creating GER
tain abnormal conditions within the
body. Shock Is an example In COM
batting these conditions, plasma is
our best weapon; and In restoring
vitality to men suffering from ex-
haustion, exposure and debility,
plasuaa is our preferredsagent s
ysxOf aH Navy and Marine spe1-
sonael wounded, injdredsor bufnSd,
less than per cent died subse-
quently; and less than l per cent
were so permanently disabled that
they had to be invalided from the
service" He paid tribute to the
Red Cross and blood donors for
providing plasma.
Byrnes Sends Message.
Principal message to the dedi-
cation came from James F. Byrnes,
director of war mobilization, who
was unable to be present. His mes
sage was read by Fred NJ Vinson
director of economic Stabilization.
This new blood donor center in
Washington" Mr.. Byrnes wrote, "is
only a small part of a tremendous
program. 1t will provide only 5000
pints of the blood which must be
contributed each week to keep our
armed forces supplied.
When you give your blood to
the Red Cross plasma bank, you may
be saving your son, the life of a
neighbor's son, or the life of some
boy fro ma distant State"
Declaring their need is greater
than ever before" Mr.. Byrnes said
Here at home we can give our
blood to save the lives of those
brave Americans who shed their own
blood that we may remain free
Literally, say, put your blood into
this worthy cause"
coiiii SAAAlO vi VI rOIScI, chairman Ol
the District Chapter of the Rec
Cross, who presided, paid tribute tc
the armed forces, to the guests, in
cluding high ranking Army, Navy
and Marine Corps officers, and ex-
pressed appreciation for those re.
sponsible for the blood clinic. Thi.
latter group included Lee D. But.
ler Of the District Chapter; Capt
Lloyd Newhouses, U. S. Navy, tech
nical supervisor of the center; Col
Douglass Kendrick, U. S. Army, an.
other pioneer In the use of plasma
Mrs. Bickford, director of the cen
ter, and others.
Lit. Eugene W. Higgins, U. S. N
r., is physician in charge of the
center, assisted by other Navy anc
Army doctors, Red Cross nurses anc
other personnel
The invocation was delivered by
Capt. r. D. Workman, chief Of Navy
chaplains. Music was presented by
the Marine Corps Band Following
the ceremony the center was opened
/ for inspection.