Friends surprise Va. soldier with refurbished truck

By Duncan Adams

The Roanoke Times

Richard Henegar Jr. looked a little pale as the minutes ticked down toward the big moment.

"I feel like I'm going to puke," he said. "I'm excited. Nervous. Ready to get it over with."

Henegar paced. People call him Junior. His father, Richard Henegar Sr., owns and operates Quality Auto Paint & Body in Roanoke. Junior manages the shop. His mother, Sheri Henegar, staffs the office.

On Thursday night, Junior, his parents and about two dozen others waited to spring a surprise on Jason Clary, 25. Clary had returned to Roanoke that afternoon after a one-year tour in Afghanistan with the Army.

Junior had spearheaded a three-month makeover of his childhood friend's 2002 Nissan Frontier pickup - an effort supported by donations of money and materials, sweat equity from friends and family, and a bikini car wash.

People pitched in, they said, because they care about Clary and wanted to show their gratitude for all American veterans and those still in harm's way.

Junior drank a beer and waited. He said he might not want to witness Clary's first reaction and considered hiding behind a roll-up door with everybody else, including his parents, Tommy and Rhonda Clary.

In the end, about 7:30 p.m., Clary and Junior walked in together.

Clary is a specialist with the 82nd Airborne Division. He served the past three months in Kandahar province - a Taliban stronghold and primary target for U.S. forces. The region has long been besieged by intense, bloody combat.

In June, Clary's mother, Rhonda, said, "It's best if I don't listen to the news."

Jason Clary returned Aug. 26 to Fort Bragg, N.C., and was released Thursday to travel to his family's home in Troutville. He will likely be redeployed but does not know where.

The overhaul began in June and ended just recently. Henegar estimated the project consumed about 300 man-hours or nearly 38 eight-hour days. Costs totaled about $10,000, he said, with about half covered by donations and in-kind contributions.

The changes included new paint, military-theme airbrushing, new tires, a monster sound system, stainless steel headers and a stainless steel exhaust system, and a spray-in bed liner.

In May, Clary had savored 15 days of R&R at home. After Clary returned to Afghanistan, his friend Junior started scheming.

The two had attended middle school together. They became close friends at Lord Botetourt High School. Both ran track.

Junior Henegar, 25, moves fast and talks fast. He's wiry and tattooed. He's someone for whom an ear-slung Bluetooth device seems nearly as necessary as breathing.

Starting in May, Junior courted sponsors, bird-dogged logistics and labored nights and weekends on the truck, assisted by co-workers. Holly Bennett and Clary met in July 2009 at a downtown Roanoke nightclub. They've had a quintessential wartime romance. They decided on Aug. 26, 2009, to become "an official couple." Clary left for Afghanistan three days later.

Bennett has communicated regularly with him.

"Every time I've talked to him, he sounded super optimistic," the 21-year-old Bennett said in June. "There's only been one time when he seemed really down."

Henegar's fan club includes Rhonda Clary.

"Hav-ing the gift of friendship is great, but Richard has gone above and beyond to do something for Jason that will mean so much to him," she said.

At 7:30 p.m., Clary and Junior came through the door. Clary stopped. Junior peeled off. Clary walked tentatively toward the pickup and, yes, his jaw dropped. After a quick inspection, he turned and hugged Henegar.

"I had no clue," he said. "It's amazing. It's awesome." He beamed. Henegar beamed.

The roll-up door ascended and the surprise contingent poured out. Tears started to roll.

Sheri Henegar waited her turn for a hug and bragged a bit about Junior.

"My son has got the biggest heart," she said. "I feel like his dad and I must have done a good job."

Mills Hobbs waited nearby. When Hobbs' division went ashore on D-Day's bloody Omaha Beach, he was three years younger than the fellow soldier he had come to honor.

He wrapped his arms around Clary. Hobbs' eyes brimmed with tears.

"Welcome home, buddy," he said. "We are proud of you."