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November 21, 2006
Keep This Hummer Moving
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. ( March 2, 2006)
Karla Comfort received a lot of looks and even some salutes from people when she drove from Benton, Ark., to Camp Pendleton, Calif., in her newly-painted, custom Hummer H3 March 2. The vehicle is adorned with the likeness of her son, 20-year-old Lance Cpl. John M. Holmason, and nine other Marines with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division who where all killed by the same improvised explosive device blast in Fallujah, Iraq, in December. For Karla Comfort, having the vehicle air brushed with the image of the 10 Marines was a way to pay homage to her hero and his fellow comrades who fell on Iraq's urban battlefield "I wanted to let people know (Marines) are doing their jobs honorably, and some of them die," said the 39-year-old from Portland, OR "I don't want people to forget the sacrifices that my son and the other Marines made." Leading up to her son's death, Karla Comfort had received several letters from him prior to his return. He had been deployed for five months, and Comfort "worried everyday he was gone until she got the letters and found out the date he was coming home," she said. Marines knocked on the front door of her home in Farmington, Mich., at 3 am with the dreadful news. "I let my guard down when I found out he was coming home," she said "There are times that I still cannot believe it happened. It's very hard to deal with."
Karla Comfort came up with the idea for the rolling memorial when she and her two other sons attended John's funeral in Portland, Ore. "I saw a Vietnam (War) memorial on a car, and I said to my son Josh, 'we should do something like that for John,' she recalled. "He loved Hummers." She purchased the vehicle in January and immediately took it to Airbrush Guy & Co. in Benton, Ark., where artist Robert Powell went to work on changing the plain, black vehicle into a decorative, mobile, art piece. "I only had the vehicle for two days before we took it in," she joked. Two hundred and fifty man-hours later, Powell had completed the vehicle. The custom job would have cost $25,000 Out of respect for Karla Comfort's loss and the sacrifices the Marines made, AirbrushGuy & Co. did it for free. Comfort only had to purchase the paint, which cost $3,000. "I love it," she said. "I'm really impressed with it, and I think John would be happy with the vehicle. He would have a big smile on his face because he loved Hummers." Karla Comfort gave Powell basic instructions on what to include in the paint job. But in addition to the image of her son in Dress Blues and the faces of the nine other Marines, there were several surprises. "He put a lot more on than I expected," she said "I think my favorite part is the heaven scene." On the left side of the vehicle, a detail of Marines are depicted carrying their fallen comrades through the clouds to their final resting place. The American flag drapes across the hood, the words, "Semper Fi" crown the front windshield and the spare tire cover carries the same Eagle Globe and Anchor design that her son had tattooed on his back. "All the support I have been getting is wonderful," she said. Karla Comfort decided to move back to her hometown of Portland, and making the cross-country trip from Arkansas was a way for her to share her son's story. It's also her way of coping with the loss. "Along the way I got nothing but positive feedback from people," she said. "What got to me was when people would salute the guys (Marines). It's hard to look at his picture. I still cry and try to get used to the idea, but it's hard to grasp the idea that he's really gone."
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Comments
That is a totally great Hummer! I would love to find a bunch of really decent auto insurance quotes for my new hummer. Man is it expensive. I was looking for car insurance quotes and did not find one auto insurance quote. You should most definitely consider insurance before buying a H3.
Posted by: Car Lover at November 24, 2006 11:54 PM
Extreme irony, if it wasn't for the American desire to control all oil reserves so more ignorant Americans can drive gas guzzling beasts like this kids would not be dieing over there to begin with.
Posted by: Ready to puke at November 26, 2006 4:21 PM
regardless of your views on how, why and the right or wrong of it all, the woman's son is dead. have a little respect.
Posted by: roscoe at February 27, 2007 3:06 AM
Some people will never understand. It would not have been the same putting this memorial on PUKEBOY'S toyota. Very fitting to have it on a Hummer. We Marines have spend alot of time in Hummers. All the respect I have to offer, to this family and every brother I have serving around the world.
Semper Fi,
Texas Leatherneck
Posted by: Leatherneck at March 10, 2007 9:13 PM
We appreciate the opportunity to paint this project no matter what type of vehicle it was on. The Hummer was chosen because it was something that made Karla think of her son. There were ten fine men that lost their lives that day. The project was a way for Karla to begin to heal from her intense pain, but ironically it did much for me too. I have a daugher and son-in-law currently serving and it was very emotionally for me to be a part of this project. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to do so.
Robert Powell aka AirbrushGuy
Posted by: Robert Powell at October 6, 2007 11:31 AM
I also have a truck, monster truck i made for all thouse who have died in all wars. I was army airboure and am disabled after a jump in 1978.my truck goes to parades, to shows like monster jam to bring out the colors.or any event need by are troops. the truck is a 1978 ford f-150. it is done in vinal pics of all wars but the words in bold on it say it all [soilders will never die unless there forgotten] IF any body would like pics e-mail me.if Karla comfort e-mails me I think she would aprove of it. I could show her. thanks and god bless america
Posted by: william Brown at July 1, 2008 6:17 PM
I guess you are going to have to change the flag on the front to a Chinese flag now (Chinese Hummer). God bless or country we are selling out!!
Posted by: M Ecker at June 2, 2009 4:38 PM
Please, forget the politics. Just respect the men that died defending our rights.
Posted by: Trixie at February 23, 2010 3:02 PM
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