Posted on 02/04/2008 5:05:22 PM PST by SandRat
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!"
Good story! Only thing i can say ifin it was me....I’d change somethin! ;-)
Some small thing we can do for him his friend said.
And yet it means more than all of the posturing by politicians.
Thank you, John Allen, and welcome home.
Welcome Home Chief Warrant Officer 3 John Allen,take that Belvedere down to the strip;)
I can’t watch videos on my cell phone, but something tells me it would just be blurry anyway.
Yep. Blurry Screen would happen.
That was great!
Welcome Home, John! Enjoy yourself with the car!
AWESOME, simply AWESOME!
Went to the AZ Daily star and loaded from there. Great vid.
Many happy returns and one fine Plymouth, They just don’t make ‘em like that any more.
Chief has damn fine taste in cars.Welcome home and enjoy your family.Thank you.
That is one happy soldier! The t shirts were awesome too. Operation Belvedere Surprise and Team Belvedere. Even the license plate! Great story. God bless them all!
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