Would-be donors of blood are kept from doing so

To the editor:

This is in reference to Christine Bales' letter concerning blood donations in Cape Girardeau. I have donated in the past -- as often as my schedule afforded -- until about two years ago. That's when the Red Cross or the Centers for Disease Control came up with the knee-jerk reaction to mad cow disease by restricting donations from potential donors who have visited Europe since the 1970s. I served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany back when our mortal enemy was the Soviet Union. That was over 20 years ago, and still I cannot give blood. This policy should be reconsidered. There were a lot of us veterans stationed in Europe through the Cold War.

WARREN CORK

Benton, Mo.