INDIANA CUSTOM TRUCK HELPS IRAQ VETERAN REALIZE HIS DREAM

A trucker and Iraq veteran, Sean McEndree Sr., has created a rolling memorial to a fallen hero and friend, SGT. Barry K. Meza who died on December 19th, 2004 while deployed to Irag and to all the others who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

His story and photo’s of his truck can be seen at www.fallenheroessemi.com on the internet.

Sean has given a lot to his country, first enlisting in the US Army and then being wounded while on duty in Irag.  He was conducting a convoy operation when they hit an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) and then was hit by several gun shots from insurgents.  During surgery he lost a portion of his right lung, gall bladder, large intestine and part of his liver.  He still has shrapnel in his right leg, chest and shoulder.  This forced his medical discharge from the Army.

He was greatly assisted in his recuperation by SGT. Barry K. Meza who later lost his life in Iraq.  Sean and his wife, Diane, decided to make Sean’s truck into a rolling memorial to SGT. Meza.  “Now many truck drivers would see this as just a rolling workplace: Not to us, this isn’t a truck, it’s a canvas, a rolling memorial in the making.  Since Sean can’t serve as a Soldier anymore – we can remember the Fallen Heroes of War – and make sure that people who see this truck, coast to coast, remember them too.” Said Diane McEndree.

A number of companies have donated time and materials to help Sean and Diane realize their dream.  First, Frey Miller Inc, a trucking company out of Oklahoma City, OK agreed to take Sean on.  Then Four States of “Trick My Truck” TV Series fame agreed to redo the exterior with help from Hood X Press and United Pacific.  Finally, Indiana Custom Truck LLC of LaGrange agreed to a total upgrade of the interior of the sleeper with help from Power Tech of Leesburg, FL, AAP of Milford, VA, Holiday Inn Express of Howe, IN and Wear Haus Designs of LaGrange, IN.  This includes removing the entire interior of the existing sleeper and replacing it with a full custom interior that includes:

            Tundra refrigerator freezer
            Dometic underbunk AC unit
            PowerTech 5KW diesel generator
            Free room at the Howe Holiday Inn Express
            Free custom shirts from Wear Haus Designs in LaGrange

Sean’s truck will arrive September 17th for the conversion to begin and he will be hosted by the American Legions in LaGrange and Middlebury.  The conversion will be patriotic in theme and take about two weeks to complete.

Any questions can be directed to Mike Baxley or John Wood of Indiana Custom Trucks, LLC in LaGrange at 260-463-3244 (Trucksleeper.com)

Indiana Custom Trucks, LLC is a manufacturer of custom sleepers for over the road truckers located in LaGrange, Indiana.  The company is owned by Elvie Frey of LaGrange, Fritz Helmuth of Topeka, Elwin Eash of Middlebury and Mike Baxley of Bristol.  The company has been in business since 1990 and employs about 48 people.