Operation Comfort - Automotivation -

[Clois Harlan]

I can only imagine the good all of you have done for the moral of every soldier you came in contact with this weekend. I can't wait to see your pictures. I wish I could have been there to share in the event.

Clois

[mtpockets]

I'll have to save my official comments until tomorrow. We just got home, cleaned up the car, unloaded the truck and have to get ready for my office Christmas party. I want to share some comments made by others that attended.
Here's a link you may want to check out. http://www.mysanantonio.com/military...than_cars.html
PS: we were on KENS channel 5 last night and this morning.

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Teresa and I made it home safe and sound and only a little wet and dusty! Bill thanks so much for arranging this trip. It was awesome and inspiring to be able to repay these Vets, if only in a small way, for their sacrifices. Hope everyone has a safe return too!
Ken
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Great event with the best group of people! What can you ask for? The bravest soldiers and the best group of friends.
You guys are wonderful. Thank you so much for all the thoughtful donations and gifts. The soldiers were absolutely speechless.

Here's wishing you all a safe trip home and the happiest of holidays!

James
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A copy of the article that appeared in the local San Antonio news is attached. These are memories of a special time with a group of friends that I will cherish for a lifetime!

Thank you so much for organizing this wonderful outing, Bill! And kuddos to you, Jim Driesch for all of the efforts that you made over the last several weeks with your vendors and customers - what a great contribution you made from all!

I know for Dave and I, this is an organization that we will be thinking about throughout the year not just at Christmas time. So we are ready, willing and able for the next trip to San Antonio!

Merry Christmas to you all!
Dave and Debra
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Thanks again to Bill and everyone else that had a hand in planning this
event. I got involved kind of at the last minute and just had enough
time to say "I am coming". Being a part of this has literally changed
my life. My daughter and I had to stop several times on the way home
and reflect on what we had been a part of. Meeting the soldiers and
being able to help was priceless. This will become a long relationship
with our family and Operation Comfort. When we got home, my wife and
three other kids sat glued to our every word about the day. Plans have
been made to write cards and letter to the soldiers in the hospital and
for ways the kids can raise money to send as donations.

On the way home, we went through New Braunfels and Bastrop to HWY 290,
I was pulled over by a DPS officer. How fast???? I was scooting along
at just under 3 digits. When the officer asked what we were up to we
explained about the day. He disappeared back to his cruiser and
returned a few minutes later. He had given me a warning and told us
that he was aware of Operation Comfort. He is retired USMC and served
in Somalia. He then went on to tell us that every soldier that comes
home from war carries scars whether or not they are visible. We talked
on the side of 290 for alomost 40 minutes. He shared with us stories
of his rehab and those that he knew. After talking he formally
introduced himself, Juan Gonzales, shook both our hands and said to
just keep doing what we were doing. He then thanked us for our service
to the soldiers and bid us a good trip. He then said "try to keep it
reasonable from now on o.k.?"

When we got home we realized that it had just stopped raining and Cindy
told me that it had rained for about 45 minutes and had stopped about
10 minutes ago. Being stopped by officer Gonzales and the resulting
conversation saved us from getting wet.

By the way when he thanked us for our service to the troops it caused
us to cry. There we were two grown men and a 15 year old crying openly
on the side of the HWY with no shame or remorse. He then told us not
to cry in front of the wounded if we could help it because it upsets
them that their injuries have upset us.

The soldiers have paid a terrible price for our freedom and then thank
us for our efforts when we do something so simple as driving our cars
to visit them. Somehow this needs to be balanced back out. What we
did was really not a lot different than just getting together to go for
a cruise. Sure it took some planning and a lot of effort and some
sacrifice but in the end it was nothing in comparison to what the
soldiers have done. I for one am going to make sure that every soldier
I come in contact with knows how much I appreciate them. It might be
as simple as a thank you or maybe a paid for meal. If I see one
shopping I might just pay the tab. I will however always be thankful
and respectful of the sacrifice.

On that note THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE COBRA GUYS AND GIRLS THAT ARE
VETERANS. I am not buying any of you lunch though.
Greg
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Thanks so much for sharing your story. I was telling my wife about the day and came close to being overwhelmed with emotion myself. We can all help, even if it's just to say "thank you" to the guys and gals when we see them in uniform on the street. Janice, the program coordinator, approached me about doing some work to their web site, as it hasn't been updated in some time and needs a fresh look. I'm jumping at the chance to be a part of this organization, even if in just a small way, to use my abilities to give something back to those that have given so much for us. And Bill S. - thanks not just for your efforts in coordinating this event, but also for providing a life-changing experience.

Ron Martel
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In parting, as much as I'd like to make this an annual event, I feel compelled to remind everyone this is everyday life for the soldiers. There are more coming into BAMC every day, they need our continued help and prayers. We have cordially invited them to join us at the TCC Spring Meet and they're very excited about that. Send them a letter, a card, wish them well, find time to take a drive over and visit them, you'll brighten the day of a soldier and give yourself a memory that will last a lifetime.
God Bless the soldiers, their families, everyone at Operation Comfort and everyone that joined us (whether in person or in spirit) this weekend.
Until tomorrow,
Bill

[mtpockets]

First, I'm not much of a writer, my grammar is atrocious and I only witnessed a fraction of the stories that were told. If you were there, please add your stories and recollections. This is what I sent to my daughters school and some others that asked for a recap. Close your eyes occasionally and try to picture the looks on their faces and ours as we're all touched.
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Good morning:
On Saturday, the Houston and Austin Cobra Clubs made our Christmas run to San Antonio, Brooke Army Medical Center to visit wounded soldiers and their families. Here’s some of the story.

We arrived at our rally point just outside the “Lonesome Dove Land & Cattle Co.” ranch on Saturday morning at 10 am. While we transferred over $8,000 in donated shop supplies, one of our club members put on his Santa outfit. He fired up his bright red Shelby Cobra and brought up the rear along with the “Red Sled” and trailer loaded to the hilt with a wide assortment of body shop supplies. Leading Santa into the ranch was a line of 30 replica Shelby Cobra’s, all on their way to spend the day and show our appreciation to 30 wounded soldiers and their families.

We were greeted at the Ranch by 50 men, women, soldiers, their children, KENS News and the local newspaper, all cheering and taking pictures. We shut off the our cars and the children immediately began running towards us. BE CAREFUL, the side pipes are VERY hot, you’ll burn your legs. One of the wounded soldiers shouts back, “what if you don’t have any legs”? Our first taste of the reality of the day was at that point. After being introduced to all the soldiers, we popped our hoods and answered questions for about 30 minutes. They’re just like most other young men, they love cars.

That’s why the “Automotivation” program was started. To give them something to get their minds off their injuries and focus on something they can call their own. They come to the ranch from BAMC, 5, 6, 7 soldiers a day, in between rehab and surgeries, to work on their cars and donated cars for hours, sanding, priming, painting, doing body work, maintenance and repairs, in three shops donated by the owners of the ranch Molly and Hugh Long, both who served in the military.

After the question and answer session, the shout came out, “Take us for a ride”. We gladly loaded them up, one at a time, wounded, their kids, a few wives and took them on a short but very spirited ride on the main road outside the ranch. The looks on their faces when we returned was priceless. Smiles from ear to ear. These guys stared death in the face and survived, so when we asked them, “Do you want to go fast” the answer was “Yes sir”. We left our marks on the road that day, a few burnouts, a couple of donuts and memories that will last forever.

Lunch was provided by a local Bar B Q restaurant. This was a good time to sit down with the soldiers, allow them to open up with their stories, where they’ve been, how they were injured, where they’re from and where they’re going to from here. It was difficult to hold back the tears but we had to. These young men, burn victims, amputees and some with traumatic brain injuries, they don’t want you to feel sorry for them, they want to know someone cares about their sacrifice. They’re just kids, like mine and yours, doing a job with unbelievable heroism. Major General Russell Czewr arrived just as lunch was finishing up to thank us for everything we did. He informs me “what you and the Cobra Club are doing helps tremendously with the moral and rehabilitation of the wounded.” In appreciation of our efforts he present me with the Generals “Challenge Coin”. I told him it was an honor and accepted it on behalf of everyone that participated this weekend. We also presented Janis at Operation Comfort with an envelope containing over $3,000 in cash, checks and gift cards to be used to purchase more shop supplies. Several members made gift bags for the soldiers. These contained blankets, hats, pens, autographed Hooters Calendars, 100 Run N Gun T’s from the Austin club, snacks and lots and lots of baked goods to bring back to the hospital.

Chris, a young man who left the Army in ’05 was showing us around, introducing us to everyone and answering many of our questions. At 25 he looked like the kid next door. He told me about the “Sled Hockey” team they started. Sleds with two ice skates underneath, you sit down on them and propel yourself around the ice with two poles, spikes on one end, hockey stick on the other. He tells me “Full Contact”, I’m trying out for the Para-Olympics team next year. I have this puzzled look on my face, he notices it and pulls up his pants leg and tells me he lost his leg in Iraq, an IED while he was driving a fuel truck.

I’m not a great writer and I didn’t hear all the stories told that day but we left that day changed people. 50 of us, mostly focused on ourselves and our cars, now with a new focus, these soldiers, their stories, their recovery, just kids that want to go back to being regular guys, get a job, have a family and live in the greatest country in the world. I only have a few pictures right now, here’s the link for them and the link for the newspaper article from the event.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/military...than_cars.html

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLan...localeid=en_US

More pictures to follow.
For more information on Operation Comfort and how you can help out go to>>> http://www.operationcomfort.org/

PS: Jay, thanks for bringing this to my attention. My family and I will never forget this day.

Merry Christmas to everyone and God Bless the soldiers.

[mtpockets]

http://s254.photobucket.com/albums/h...view=slideshow

[hey,littlecobra]

nice to read, thanks for sharing. I'm sorry i had to miss this!
Perhaps next time.
thanks again, and what a great thing ya'll did.
Best Wishes for everyone this Christmas season.
Kristen

[SSSammy]

Bill, the stories and pics are extremely moving to read and look at. Thank you for sharing them so promptly. I wish I had been able to come. But you and the rest of the Houston/Austin folks did us all proud. I am very, very proud of all of you and what your celebration of giving to our wounded soldiers means to them.

God bless our soldiers and keep them well, wherever they are ...

Sam

[jayscobras]

You never said that you could't tell a story or paint a picture. Great job on both. I can't tell the Houston bunch or the rest of the cobra people what an outstanding effort and event that HCC put on. What I can ask is "did your hearts change for the better and do you now know what freedom costs?'

The pictures posted really say a lot but there is a lot more to be said and each and every one of us needs to say it..."GOD bless our soldiers and the United States of America!"

Our work is only beginning because more and more soldiers are arriving there.

Again my thanks and thanks from the organization that I as So honored to be a part of.

Ya'll done GOOD!!!!!!

Jay

[jshel1]

Bill, Your descriptions and slideshow are very moving. I know
my wish to to be there in the future is echoed by many others.

John

[OGERCOBRA]

I was looking to do a rally for American Cancer Society or Juvenile Diabetes. I have an LSC Cobra and know of three other Cobra's in San Antonio that want to help with a charity rally/show?

Please let me know if any clubs are in the San Antonio area with contact info.

Thanks!

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

OGER,

Ryan Logan is a member of the Texas Cobra Club and he lives in San Antonio. He joins the Austin Group when we meet and do cruises. He is on our Yahoo User group so he stay informed with all that i happening. PM me and I can get his email address for you if you wish.

Gregg H

[Joe Wicked]

The last month has been so busy for me, I am just now getting back to this thread. I have seen first hand what the mental trauma can do. My dad was in the thick of things in Vietnam for 4 years. He had to witness his best friends death during a quiet conversation in a "safe zone". To this day he does not talk about Vietnam, he tried to find an escape from the past in a bottle. I did not know until I was 17 years old that my dad has 2 purple hearts, a silver star, and multiple other medals from his service. He does not display them, he does not want to talk about them. More programs like this are needed, I hope to be a part of this going forward. My medical discharge was from an accident during a time of peace and yet it was still very stressful. What these men and women have gone through deserves so much more.