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A Life Well Lived
by U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Rebeckah Medeiros
March 16,
2020
As the sun dances across the room, glaring off the origami
hanging from the ceiling, Dennis Provencher looks upon his framed
photo and world record certificate of recognition with pride while
explaining to the service members how and why he earned it.
Provencher has donated 34 gallons of blood over 50 years, that is
potentially 816 lives saved from just his blood donations. Having
given so much to help others, he won a memorable honor for his great
contributions.
He told his guests gathered around him that
making it into the Guinness Book of World Records was one of his
proudest accomplishments.
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December 23, 2019 - Retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Dennis Provencher, airborne and ground radio operator, right, receives a memento from Lt. Col. Daniel Waid, 18th Communications Squadron commander, left, for his years of dedicated service in Okinawa City, Okinawa. Provencher served 20 years in the military and continued to serve after retirement in his community and donating blood every two months. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Rebeckah Medeiros)
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“Donating became like clockwork, I
would be back in the chair donating blood as soon as the wait time
was over,” he said. “I would have given more, but nurses wouldn’t
let me.”
Members from the 18th Wing were invited into Dennis’
home to thank him for years of dedicated service, both for military
and community contributions.
“Having the opportunity to meet
and speak with Dennis was amazing,” said Staff Sgt. Slade Gardner,
18th Communications Squadron, radio frequency transmission systems
operator. “He was in the Air Force for 20 years and has donated so
much life-saving blood. It was a tremendous honor to meet him.”
Provencher retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years as an
airborne and ground radio operator where he specialized in Morse
code. Being the only one in his team of six, he favored being his
own boss and having the time to read and learn whatever his heart
desired.
“During Vietnam, we got rocketed a few times,”
Provencher explained. “We always had to run and hide under some of
the buildings. We would crawl under the buildings hoping to not get
hit. It was interesting.”
Later, while in Germany,
Provencher learned to read, write and speak two dialects of the
German language, which he is still happy to converse in the tongue.
He moved to Okinawa in 1961 to finally settle down in his
forever home.
“I got here and bought a house right away
because I wanted to stay here,” Provencher stated. “I like Okinawa,
it’s a good life here.”
Being retired and so close to
multiple military bases, gave Provencher the opportunity to donate
blood as often as possible.
“Now that I am retired,
everything is calm and relaxing,” he said. “Donating blood makes me
happy. I get to help people in need.”
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