WORLD WAR II HERO HAS DONATED 37.5 GALLONS OF BLOOD

Let's contrast this man with the hand out, free loading Obama supporters who have never done a good deed in their life. Hard to believe that their vote counts as much as this man's vote.

It’s been 64 years since Erwin “Bud” Sweetman needed a blood transfusion, but the 85-year-old World War II veteran keeps donating his blood in gratitude – and as a point of patriotism.

On Monday he’ll be giving his 300th pint.

Wounded in action by machine-gun fire as an Army private at Normandy in 1944, he spent more than a year in the hospital recovering from a spinal injury. It was the only time he’s ever received blood.

But he set his donation goal and will reach it during a pre-Veterans Day blood drive from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Calabash American Legion Post 503.

“Monday worries me more than anything else,” he said during an interview last week, explaining that media and representatives from U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre’s office, Brunswick County’s Veteran Services Office and the American Red Cross are expected for a noon ceremony. “I don’t like to talk too much,” he said.

But on the subject of love of country, Sweetman has something to say. “I’m a pretty good patriot,” he says, noting the two American flags outside his Sunset Beach residence. Donating blood is another way of showing his devotion.

Sweetman said he likes to think about all the people he’s helped with his type A-positive blood, adding that he hopes some of his blood has helped today’s service members fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I hope some of it goes over there,” he said.