An eastern Tennessee body shop shared some holiday cheer with Army Sgt. Jeffrey Denton, whose truck was stolen while he served in Iraq.
Police recovered Denton’s stolen 1984 Ford F-150 in pieces at a chop shop in early December, and Rick’s Collision Repair of Powell, Tenn., restored it in a week – just in time for Denton’s holiday homecoming, WVLT-TV Channel 8 reported.
Local businesses, veterans and other community members donated time and money to make sure the truck was roadworthy in time for the soldier’s return. Denton, who thought he’d have to fix the truck himself, instead got it back in one piece Christmas eve while friends and family stood by to witness the surprise.
“I don’t know what to say,” Denton said when he saw the truck. “Thank y’all so much.”
Danny Duncan of Rick’s Collision Repair said he felt good about helping Denton.
“We figure he’s over there fighting for our country,” Duncan said. “That’s the least we could do since it got stolen while he was in Iraq.”
Denton said the truck was “the best Christmas present ever.”
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