Pickup Truck Raises Soldier's Spirits

When Army National Guardsman Richard Pike returned from Afghanistan on Dec. 11 after an 11-month deployment, his 13-year-old Dodge pickup truck wasn't waiting for him.

It's being painted, his wife Jean told him.

Two months later, on Thursday, Pike barely recognized his pickup -- and he was ecstatic.

Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School collision repair technology shop students repainted the soldier's red and silver vehicle Patriot Blue Metallic, reflecting his interest in blue.

The students, collision repair technology teacher William Collins and Jean Pike surprised him with the truck on Thursday.

The 1998 graduate and Bridgewater resident even got behind the wheel for a brief spin in the school parking lot.

Besides the paint job, the students also airbrushed a mural on the tailgate: "Freedom isn't free, but it's worth fighting for," identical to a tattoo Pike has on his back.

And the students made extensive improvements underneath the pickup, which arrived at the South Easton school with rust and rot, as well as dings, dents and scratches.

The changes included: a new grille; removing the original moldings and emblems; painting the plastic bumper and tailgate trim black; a new rear windshield mural and tinted side windows; and custom billet aluminum gas/brake/e-pedals. And automotive department students installed a set of new tires donated by Mass Tire in Brockton.

Southeastern serves nine communities: Brockton, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norton, Sharon and Stoughton.

The students from Patch communities who participated in this project were: seniors Jalen Glasco of Norton, Eric Hartwell of Sharon and Jose Pena of Mansfield, and juniors Zachary Bourget of Stoughton and Tyler Nelson of Norton.