ATTENTION with this!!!
On March 2, 2006, Karla Comfort received a lot of looks and even
some salutes when she drove from Benton, Arkansas to Camp Pendleton, California in her new custom painted Hummer H3. 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 killed by the same improvised explosive device blast at Fallujah, Iraq, in December 2005.
For 39 year old Karla Comfort from Portland, Oregon having the
vehicle air brushed with the image of these Marines was a way to pay homage to her son and his fellow comrades who fell on Iraq's urban battlefield. "I wanted people to remember that many Marines are serving honorably and many are dying. I don't want people to forget the sacrifices that my son and other Marines have made." The idea for the rolling memorial came about at John's funeral
when she and her two other sons noticed a Vietnam War memorial on a vehicle.
Because John loved Hummers she purchased the vehicle in January and took it to Airbrush Guy & Co. in Benton, Arkansas, where after 250 man
hours artist Robert Powell changed the plain black vehicle into a decorative, mobile, art piece.
The custom job would have cost $25,000 but out of respect for
Karla Comfort's loss and the sacrifices the Marines made, Airbrush Guy & Co. did it for free. Karla Comfort only had to purchase the paint which cost $3,000. "I love it and am so impressed with it. I know John would be extremely happy with the vehicle. He would have a big smile on his face."
Karla Comfort gave Robert Powell some basic instructions on what to include in the paint job. But in addition to the image of her son in his Dress Blues, and the faces of the nine other Marines, there were several surprises. "He put much more on than I expected. I think my favorite part is the heaven scene." The left side of the vehicle illustrates Marines 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. 
After she decided to move back to her hometown of Portland, Oregon, a cross-country trip from Arkansas was planned as her way to share her son's story. It was also her way of coping with her loss. "I still cry and try to accept the idea that he is really gone. What has touched me are the salutes people give." 
I grew up with a Father who served in Vietnam, 3 siblings who served in the USAF, and now a niece and nephew who currently serve in Iraq. This story was received through email but very touching. I hope you took the few minutes to read this amazing story of one mother's fight to honor her son's memories as he served his country.
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