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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Eric Cates, 173rd Fighter Wing, explains how he assembles Covid testing kits needed during the Omicron Variant Surge to 173rd Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Jeff Edwards, Feb. 11, 2022 at Sky lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Ore. Crates, who had literally joined the unit a few days prior to his activation, was one of the 1,200 Oregon Guardsman activated to support local hospitals with short staffing and heavy patient loads during the pandemic. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Jefferson Thompson)

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From left, Staff Sgt. Clinton Woodhams of the 270th Air Traffic Control Squadron and Airman 1st Class Matthew Hagen, of the 173rd Maintenance Group, receive a letter of recognition on behalf of the Oregon Air National Guard commander, Feb. 11, 2022 at Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Ore. They are part of an activation of nearly 1,200 Oregon Guardsmen activated around the state of Oregon assisting at more than 40 hospitals to assist with short staffing and heavy patient loads during the pandemic. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Jefferson Thompson)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Jeffrey Edwards, 173rd Fighter Wing Commander, visits with Airman 1st Class Matthew Hagen, a maintainer at the wing, who is activated to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Ore., to assist with short staffing and heavy patient loads during the pandemic, Feb. 11, 2022. Nearly 1,200 Oregon Guardsmen are activated around the state of Oregon assisting at more than 40 hospitals. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Jefferson Thompson)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Jeffrey Edwards, 173rd Fighter Wing Commander, visits with Airman 1st Class Tristan Wilson, a maintainer at the wing, who is activated to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Ore., to assist with short staffing and heavy patient loads during the pandemic, Feb. 11, 2022. Nearly 1,200 Oregon Guardsmen are activated around the state of Oregon assisting at more than 40 hospitals. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Jefferson Thompson)

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Oregon Airmen help avert hospital crowding crisis

Published Feb. 18, 2022
By Master Sgt. Jefferson Thompson
173rd Fighter Wing

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Eric Cates, 173rd Fighter Wing, explains how he assembles Covid testing kits needed during the Omicron Variant Surge to 173rd Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Jeff Edwards, Feb. 11, 2022 at Sky lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Ore. Crates, who had literally joined the unit a few days prior to his activation, was one of the 1,200 Oregon Guardsman activated to support local hospitals with short staffing and heavy patient loads during the pandemic. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Jefferson Thompson)

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