Mervin Myers Shank was born on February 15, 1922 in Manheim, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Clarence Edgar Shank and Bertha Neise Myers Shank. He was married to Mary L. Terry Shank and had 4 children. He was orphaned at the age of 8 and was received into the Milton S. Hershey Home, a home and school for impoverished, healthy, orphaned boys. Mervin served as a Sergeant and Gunner in the 791st Bomber Squadron, 467th Bomber Group, Heavy on B24 #42-52445 aircraft during World War II. On April 22, 1944 while returning from bombing the railway marshalling yards at Hamm (Germany), the craft was shot at from the rear by ME-410 intruder aircraft of Kampfgeschwader 51, which had entered the landing pattern of returning aircraft. Seven men were killed and 3 men bailed out safely (including SGT Shank). SGT Shank survived the war. He retired from the United States Air Force as Chief Master Sergeant. CMSGT Shank died at the age of 89 on December 13, 2011 in Fairborn, Ohio but his current burial place is unknown.