Regardless of where readers come down on the Iraq War debate, most can agree to appreciate the sacrifice and courage required to be a soldier in the U.S. Armed Forces. That's what makes a new Associated Press article about a returning car-crazy Indiana National Guardsman so uplifting.
39-year-old reservist Spc. Bob Metcalf, returned from a one year stint in Iraq to a surprise gift from friends and relatives: his basket-case 1967 Plymouth Barracuda restored in gleaming, patriotic style. The once rusty and fenderless musclecar has been reworked featuring a sparkling blue paint job with red and white stripes. In Overhaulin'-esque fashion, volunteers worked for six months to realize "one soldier's dream."
Congratulations and kudos to all involved... and for any readers that come across pics of the Mopar in question, please feel free to tip us off.
[Source: The Associated Press via Fort Wayne News Sentinel, Mountain Gateway Mopars]
(Tip-nod: Starlightmica)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
G. Snyder @ Mar 27th 2006 3:11PM
A 39 year old Specialist? Wow. Wonder if that is a record.
Tor @ Mar 27th 2006 3:20PM
"In Overhaulin'-esque fashion"
Not quite, it's nowhere near grotesque enough.
george Curnew @ Mar 27th 2006 3:36PM
Instead of "in our Armed Forces" try "in the U.S. Armed Forces." A significant number of people here aren't American's, and keeping the discussion car-centric rather than US-centric is appreciated.
John F @ Mar 27th 2006 3:44PM
But the writers of this blog are from the United States, so they're free to call the US armed forces theirs.
Michael S. @ Mar 27th 2006 3:45PM
I was always wondering how someone in the military for 20 years is still only a Spc, even in the reserves.
Crusin' @ Mar 27th 2006 3:52PM
Who cares why he is still a SPC or a SPC again. It's nice to see he made it home ok!
Chris @ Mar 27th 2006 3:54PM
George, you're welcome to read blogs from other countries if you don't like it :-)
Matt @ Mar 27th 2006 4:00PM
That is so cool!
The other comments here demonstrate just how dumb car types can be. Sometimes I'm ashamed to be a car enthusiast, for fear I might get lumped in with the other mouth breathers.
Matt Keegan @ Mar 27th 2006 4:12PM
Nice "feel good" news for once. Especially nice to see that some people care enough about the sacrifices of another to bring to them some pleasure.
God bless the USA!
SaveGas @ Mar 27th 2006 4:33PM
That 8 mpg ‘classic’ should be drained of all liquids and pushed off a bridge to rightfully serve as a boat anchor. I hope the Specialist brought back some of Sadam’s crude, since he’ll need a small filing station to fuel that gluttonous vehicle.
Richard Warren @ Mar 27th 2006 4:39PM
Cooooooooollllllllll
And guys, give it a F***ing break on the US and if the guys a just a Spc, the article does not say, maybe he's a Spec 5.
It's good that someone went, did his duty and came home and that those efforts were rewarded in a nice way.
Then ask how many of you making the comments went over or were ever in the service?
Proud American @ Mar 27th 2006 4:44PM
The ammount of disrespect for members of OUR armed forces shown in some of the above posts is absolutely apalling.
Without the sacrifice of this man, and others like him, you and I would not be able to openly interact and discuss the way that we do without fear of persecution.
You don't like the car? Don't post. Hate the military? Be thankful for the freedoms they have provided you.
God bless this man, and all those who were able to come together as a community to show this man how much his sacrifice truly means.
phil @ Mar 27th 2006 4:45PM
Its nice to see assholes like SaveGas are still here voiceing their anti-everything comments.
Dark Leth @ Mar 27th 2006 4:48PM
Did it ever occur to you that he may have signed up in 2003 or something?
General Patton @ Mar 27th 2006 4:59PM
We need more men like SaveGas. His guts would be perfect to grease OUR tank treads.
G. Snyder @ Mar 27th 2006 5:05PM
I am not sure anyone was saying anything against the military. Loosen up. When I made my comment, I wondered if it was a typo. Some of you d-bags make pretty wild assumptions based on a few words.
Richard Warren @ Mar 27th 2006 6:08PM
#16,
Sorry, but the d-bag was the person who made a snide comment to start off this discussion and now tries to hide behind a lame excuse of a typo.
I respect the 158 guys that were lost in one day, a few of us were lucky to live to tell the tale. I'm one of 9 from that day.
And those of us who serve and have served heard just about enough of that type of BS thank you and perhaps are a little thin skinned about it.
anahit @ Mar 27th 2006 6:44PM
I object to this discussion being in English only. That's so US-centric.
Ni tute uzus Esperantan male.
tony @ Mar 27th 2006 7:01PM
Anyone who drives these gas guzzlers should be sent to Iraq. If you want to drive something like this, then go fight for your oil and maybe less people would be dying, or at least less people who don't deserve to die.
RamSport47 @ Mar 27th 2006 7:20PM
about the gas mileage of that Barracuda...it gets probably in the 20 to 25 MPG range...I had one...which is as good as alot of cars produced today...even from those high and mighty japanese companies. so quit the bitching about fuel economy if you don't know what you're talking about. And remember this about your faovrite japanese car company (let as lower case on purpose). THE BIGGER YOU ARE, THE FURTHER YOU FALL...remember GM used to be HUGE, and in the future...we will be saying the same of toyota