Nothing to add, except that you could often see a Red Cross “Please donate blood!” sign in the background in hospital scenes of MASH*. Yes, I know it was not a documentary.
In 21+ years of active and guard time I have only been involved once. It was not manditory. I am now surprised to learn that I can’t cause I was stationed in Germany 89-91. So what do Europeans do for blood?
AIUI, it’s all about the mad cow beef from England that we might’ve been fed on base, so most Europeans aren’t effected