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Senior Master Sgt. Howard Berkenbosch Jr., Adult Good Samaritan

By Master Sgt. Todd D. Moomaw, 132nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published March 19, 2010

Every other week for the past 14 years Senior Master Sgt. Howard Berkenbosch Jr. of the 132nd Maintenance Squadron, can be found at the Blood Center of Iowa donating blood. Since 1995, he has donated approximately 60 gallons of blood platelets. He was recognized as the Adult Good Samaritan at the eighth annual Heroes of the Heartland Breakfast, Thursday, March 4, 2010.(U.S. Air Force/Senior Master Sgt. Tim Day)(released)
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Every other week for the past 14 years Senior Master Sgt. Howard Berkenbosch Jr. of the 132nd Maintenance Squadron, can be found at the Blood Center of Iowa donating blood. Since 1995, he has donated approximately 60 gallons of blood platelets. He was recognized as the Adult Good Samaritan at the eighth annual Heroes of the Heartland Breakfast, Thursday, March 4, 2010.(U.S. Air Force/Senior Master Sgt. Tim Day)(released)

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Des Moines, Iowa -- Every other week for the past 14 years Senior Master Sgt. Howard Berkenbosch Jr. can be found at the Blood Center of Iowa donating blood. Since 1995, he has donated approximately 60 gallons of blood platelets. He was recognized as the Adult Good Samaritan at the eighth annual Heroes of the Heartland Breakfast, Thursday, March 4, 2010.

Sergeant Berkenbosch, who lives in Ankeny and works in Aircraft Maintenance for the 132nd Fighter Wing, Iowa Air National Guard, is one of the most loyal donors to the Blood Center. The platelets he donates are distributed around the state to 49 hospitals in 44 Iowa counties. The need for blood is widespread. Cancer and leukemia patients, transplant recipients, burn patients and patients suffering from bleeding disorders all benefit from donations of blood. "Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood...The need is just so tremendous," explains Sergeant Berkenbosch.