Veteran honors fellow service members, late wife through fundraiser
A West Liberty native honored his late wife with a plethora of donations to the Logan County Veteran’s Service Center this month, all made possible through his fundraising efforts for a Miles for Monica marathon run he completed Sept. 19.
Chris Plank, who currently lives in Celina, donated to the local office a total of 40 gift bags for veterans that included blood pressure monitors, laundry detergent, fabric softener, dish soap, deodorant, socks, shampoo, along with gift cards, gas cards and other miscellaneous items.
“This gift bag is to thank you for your service to our great nation. A great amount of love, respect, and dedication went into the initiative to build these gift bags,” according to the letter attached to the gift bags.
Plank created the fundraiser in memory of his late wife, Gunnery Sgt. Monica Plank, who served more than 14 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. She was killed in a hit-and-run crash during February 2014 in Bellefontaine while on leave with her family.
To honor Monica’s memory, Plank ran 26.2 miles carrying the Marine Corps flag on the Grand Lake St. Mary’s marathon course. While that official marathon was canceled this year because of COVID-19, he followed the course Sept. 19 to complete the run on his own, his family said.
Plank accepted donations from many friends and family in remembrance of Monica, whom he married May 23, 2013. Those donations paid for the gift bag items.
A runner and fellow veteran, he also served a driver for the Logan County Veteran’s Service Office from December 2019 to April 2020.
“He met many amazing veterans that left great memories. This fundraiser was to help vets that may need it, and to honor Monica Plank, a great woman, and a stellar Marine,” the letter with the gift bag states.
Monica began her career as a mechanic on Huey and Cobra attack helicopters, and was first stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where she also deployed to Okinawa, Japan.
She then moved to Parris Island, S.C., where she became a drill instructor. She served four years at Parris Island, during which she gave birth to two daughters, Jocelyn and Adriana.
In 2007, she moved back to Camp Pendleton and resumed working on Hueys and Cobras. During this time, she also gave birth to her son, Gabriel.
In 2010, Monica’s unit permanently moved to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, in Havelock, N.C.
While in North Carolina, she also served on a deployment to Afghanistan. Shortly after returning, Monica met Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Plank.
Between 2012 and 2013, both Chris and Monica transferred to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico Va. There, Monica served as a Sergeant Instructor (drill instructor) at the Officer Candidate School, while Chris served as a Faculty Adviser (instructor) at the Career Course Academy for Marine Staff Sergeants.