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February 05, 2008
Surprise Awaits Soldier Returning From Afghanistan
Surprise awaits soldier returning from Afghanistan
It was a homecoming to cherish for Chief Warrant Officer 3 John Allen. The Apache helicopter pilot spent a year in Afghanistan before returning home on Saturday night to the Pinal Air Park.
While Allen was away, friends and family refurbished his 1964 Plymouth Belvedere. Dozens of friends and family were on hand at his arrival Saturday night to surprise him with the car.
Allen stared in disbelief before cracking a smile and embracing his family.
He said, "I was very excited to be home. This here is just over the top, unbelievable!"
Allen's friends came up with the idea during Thanksgiving. It took more than a dozen hands and a few donations to make fixing up the car a reality.
Rich Gomez is one of the friends who donated his garage to the project. "They're doing a job that we can't do. They're putting their life on the line for us. This is just something, [a] small thing we could do. I knew it was close to his heart."
Allen said while he was deployed, he often thought of projects he could do when he returned. "I was really motivated when I got home. I was going to work on this thing, but now I don't have to! I'm done!"
Wild Thing's comment........
Welcome Home Chief Warrant Officer 3 John Allen and thank you!
Great story. God bless them all!
Posted by Wild Thing at February 5, 2008 02:47 AM
Comments
My first car ever was a 63 Plymouth Belvedere. Push button transmission and AM radio.
Posted by: BobF at February 5, 2008 07:04 AM
How wonderful to have friends like this who love you.
John Allen is indeed the richest man in town.
Welcome home, son, welcome home.
Posted by: Lynn at February 5, 2008 08:24 AM
AWWWWW! I so Love stories like this!!
Posted by: yankeemom at February 5, 2008 09:15 AM
Neat! I bet that Plymouth is really appreciated and gets TLC now.
Posted by: TomR at February 5, 2008 11:16 AM
What's that old reworded Chevy ditty? "when you're driving in your Rambler, the whole world laughs at you'.
Wow, what a group of friends and family. I shipped out with a worn out '59 Nash Rambler, a car that I'd shoehorned a John Deere tractor generator on for the wife to drive while gone and it was in horrible shape two years later. Literally scrap!!!
I'm envious.
Thank you CW3 John Allen and welcome home.
Posted by: Jack at February 5, 2008 01:11 PM
I seem to miss seeing these stories in the MSM. I wonder why? I'm sure there are many other similar stories that we don't hear about. The returning troops deserve all the thanks that they can get.
Posted by: Les at February 5, 2008 11:01 PM
Bob that is neat thanks for sharing about it.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 6, 2008 01:33 AM
Lynn, that is just what it is too, he is the richest man to have friends and family like he has.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 6, 2008 01:34 AM
Yankeemom, me too. I smiled sooo big when I read this story.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 6, 2008 01:34 AM
Tom I bet so too. He must have fallen asleep with a huge smile on his face.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 6, 2008 01:35 AM
Jack, guess what I had a Nash Rambler too. It was my very first car.
Here is a funny story. I was out driving it one day with all my girlfriends ( I was 17) and all of a sudden this horrible noise. Clang clang clang. Then it stopped all of a sudden. We all walked to a gas station, called my Dad and he got the gas station attendent to come and get the car. I had thrown a rod. When my Dad told me, I said I didn't throw anything. LOL
He laughed too then explained to me what it meant.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 6, 2008 01:39 AM
Les, the media should have these stories nightly on the news. They have better ways then we do to find out about them so shame on them. They are such wonderful heartfelt stories.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 6, 2008 01:41 AM
