In Memory

Edward Desire Parent

Edward Desire Parent

Edward D. Parent graduated from EMHS in 1982 and received an Air Force Scholarship to attend Oklahoma State University. He graduated from OSU in 1986 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force. He reported to pilot training at Vance AFB, Enid, Oklahoma, in 1987.

After completing pilot training in 1988, Ed went to Altus AFB for advanced training on the C-141 Starlifter before reporting to Norton AFB in California. He was later assigned to McChord AFB in Seattle, Washington.

During his Air Force career, Ed flew many support missions around the Pacific Rim and other key locations across the globe. On one mission in December ‘89, Ed flew his C-141 in Operation JUST CAUSE, inserting Army paratroopers in Panama City in black-out conditions under fire. Ed went on to fly support to Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM.

Ed rose to the rank of Captain and was certified as Instructor and Aircraft Commander in the C-141. In 1991, Ed married Lori Johnson in Redlands, California.

On 30 November 1992, Ed was one of 13 McChord aircrew members killed when two C-141 aircraft collided in the skies over central Montana near the town of Harlem. A local tribe donated granite from their sacred mountain used to erect a memorial in Harlem, Montana, just off Highway 2. Another memorial was erected at McChord AFB.

*Contributed by classmate Carl Drake



 
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08/17/11 05:31 PM #1    

Kevin Bray

Ed Parent and I were good friends all through High School and most of college.  Ed moved to town sometime around 1978.  Ed was very intelligent and had a great sense of humor.  In college, a few of us (David Gleason, etc.) took a ski trip with ski chalet to Crested Butte.  What a great time we had.  He got his commission in the Air Force and was very excited about getting a pilots slot. 

I miss his smile and laugh.

Kevin


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