×

Military transport flyover salutes Parkersburg health workers in COVID-19 fight

A C-17 Globemaster III military transport plane from the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard flies over WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center Tuesday. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
A C-17 Globemaster III military transport plane flown by Maj. Jared Shank, a graduate of Parkersburg South High School, from the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard flies over WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center Wednesday. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
A crowd at Fort Boreman Park Wednesday keeps an eye and ear to the skies awaiting the arrival of a C-17 Globemaster III military transport plane from the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard. The training flight honored workers in the pandemic response. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
From left, Tom Shank of Parkersburg and Enid James, the father and grandmother of Maj. Jared Shank, waited at Fort Boreman Park for the arrival of a C-17 Globemaster III military transport plane flown by the major from the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard. The training flight, a mission in the U.S. Air Force’s Operation American Resolve, recognized workers involved with the pandemic response. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
A man points off to the distance Wednesday from the overlook at Fort Boreman Park as the C-17 Globemaster III military transport plane from the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard approaches downtown Parkersburg. The fly over, a training mission in the U.S. Air Force’s Operation American Resolve, honored those on the front lines of the pandemic. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
A C-17 Globemaster III military transport plane from the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard flies over WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center Wednesday in a training mission in the U.S. Air Force’s Operation American Resolve to recognize the people on the front lines of the pandemic. The plane was flown by Maj. Jared Shank, a 2000 graduate of Parkersburg South High School, his mother, Ramona Harper of Parkersburg, said. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
The C-17 Globemaster III passes over downtown Parkersburg Wednesday. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
The C-17 Globemaster III passes over downtown Parkersburg Wednesday. (Photo by Terry L. Estep)

PARKERSBURG — The pilot of the military transport plane that flew over Camden Clark Medical Center to honor those on the frontlines of the pandemic was from Parkersburg.

Maj. Jared Shank of the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard is a 2000 graduate of Parkersburg South High School, his mother, Ramona Harper of Parkersburg, said. The flyover by the C-17 Globemaster III military transport plane was part of the U.S. Air Force’s Operation American Resolve. About 30 hospitals in West Virginia were in the training mission, including Wheeling Hospital prior to Camden Clark.

Shank, an airline pilot, is the son of Harper and Tom Shank of Parkersburg and the grandson of Enid James and Veda Shank of Parkersburg. He has been in the National Guard for more than 20 years. While the flyovers are a training mission, it is part of a nationwide salute supporting those in the COVID-19 response and to raise morale and spirits during the pandemic. It circled the hospital and the downtown twice before leaving.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today