Cole Mitchell, a junior at Ramstein High School, and Master Sgt. Brittin Davis, an Air Force first sergeant, are discussing the bone marrow donation drives they organized this month in the Kaiserslautern Military Community during their time at the American Forces Network studio in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Nov. 7, 2024. (Cole Mitchell)
This Thanksgiving, Air Force Master Sgt. Brittin Davis has many reasons to be grateful.
Nine years ago, Davis, serving as a first sergeant at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Warfare Center, received a life-saving bone marrow transplant on Thanksgiving Day in 2015, which allowed him to overcome a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.
Davis recalls doctors telling him, “This marks your new birthday, as you are replacing all of your blood cells.”
Now, Davis has partnered with an Eagle Scout candidate to assist others battling similar challenges. Once again, he is leading the Salute to Life bone marrow donor drive for the Kaiserslautern first sergeants council. Salute to Life serves as the donor center for individuals linked with the Department of Defense, including U.S. military personnel.
Throughout the week leading up to December 1, volunteers will set up registration tables at various locations, including the Ramstein and Vogelweh commissaries, the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center, and both fitness centers on Ramstein Air Base. Cole Mitchell, a junior at Ramstein High School, is organizing the KMCC registration drive as part of his Eagle Scout project, with assistance from fellow scouts from Troop 156.
With Mitchell’s involvement, Davis aims to surpass last year’s registration figure of 450, emphasizing that registering can directly save lives if matches are found.
Army Sgt. Chris Vinderslev registers as a donor by swabbing the inside of his cheek to join the National Marrow Donor Program Database. (U.S. Army)
At the age of 26, while stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas, Davis discovered a bump on his head, initially believing it to be an ingrown hair. However, he was diagnosed with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), a rare and aggressive blood cancer resembling features of both lymphoma and leukemia.
