Found letter sparks family to donate blood

On Dec. 21, 1944, close to the end of the Second World War, an 88-millimetre shell exploded 20 feet away from Daniel J. MacDonald, severing two arteries in his left leg.  MacDonald lost his leg and his left arm but the blood transfusion he received on the battlefield saved his life.

Last November, his son, Daniel Jr., found a letter written by his father, thanking the Canadian Red Cross for the blood.

On Wednesday, Daniel Jr. and his son, Nigel, currently a member of the Prince Edward Island Regiment training at CFB Gagetown, each donated blood at Canadian Blood Services in Charlottetown.  It was Nigel’s first time donating blood, inspired by his grandfather’s letter.

“Anything I can do to help I’m obviously willing to do,” Nigel, 22, said before giving blood. “If it’s going to help save a life on the battlefield . . . I know my friends have (served in Afghanistan).  “As soon as dad found the letter he called me and had blood services set this up. I thought it was a great idea.”

Daniel MacDonald Jr. said he was in the process of helping move his mother, Pauline, when they found the letter. It was written in May 1946 to the Canadian Red Cross. Col. Al Rogers, who established CFCY Radio, drove up to Bothwell to pick MacDonald up and drive him back to Charlottetown so MacDonald could read the letter on the air.

MacDonald Jr. said he heard the story before but never gave it much thought.  “My father would never talk about the war. He’d say ‘you can find better things to do with your time’.”

Pauline MacDonald suggested her son do something with the letter besides store it in a shoebox where it could get lost.  With Remembrance Day next week, the timing of the donation, and the story behind it isn’t lost on either Daniel Jr. or Nigel.

During November, Canadian Blood Services, the Canadian Forces and the Royal Canadian Legion are asking Islanders to donate blood as a way of honouring the contribution of Canadian Forces personnel in Canada and around the world.

“We never know what’s around the next corner, none of us, (or) when we’re going to need blood to save our lives,” MacDonald Jr. said. “It’s a good message to get out there, to encourage all Islanders, all Canadians, all other troops to get involved in blood donating.”

MacDonald’s letter is now on display in the Prince Edward Island Regiment museum at  Queen Charlotte Armouries.  Daniel Jr. felt since his father was an honorary colonel of PEIR from 1977 to his death in 1980 that it was the most appropriate place for it.

Read full story and the family history - An Inspirational Act

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