U.S. Army SPC Sean McEndree and his wife Diane were like a lot of military couples. Sean went to Iraq in 2004 with the 96th Transportation Company out of Fort Hood, and Diane waited anxiously for him to return.

Unfortunately, Sean also became like a lot of Heroes in a different sense. While conducting convoy operations, his unit was ambushed. A direct hit from an IED explosion, and several gunshots left him with wounds to his right shoulder and chest. Emergency surgery saved his life, but he lost a portion of his right lung, liver, gall bladder, and large intestine. He still lives with shrapnel in his right leg and chest. His injuries led to a medical discharge.

Fortunately, Sean recovered well enough to start a new career, as a truck driver. Many people would, after that experience, be content to move on, leaving their military experience behind.

Not Sean.

Many truck drivers would see this as just a rolling workplace:


Not Sean. Sean is a man on a mission. And this isn't a truck, it's a canvas - a rolling memorial in the making. Sean can't serve as a Soldier anymore - but he can help remember the fallen - and make sure that people who see this truck, coast to coast, remember them too.

Some of the work has already begun. In March 2005, Fallen Heroes Veterans Express, LLC, was founded.

The hood of the truck bears a name: SGT. Barry K. Meza KIA 19 DEC 04

The attennas are Striker attennas.

Here's the rest of Sean and Diane's vision:

He wants to have the Kevlar, rife, and boots spray painted on the back of the sleeper. The words Fallen Heroes on the sides. Also on the outside of the truck have the stacks replaced, new fenders, a drop visor, a texas square bumper, center plate, diamond plate decking and have all LED lights put on the semi.

Now on the inside he is planning on having the dash done as the American Flag. The arm rest are also going to be done like the American Flag. I am making curtains for him which will be the American Flag. He has already made most of the dash lights red and has blue toggles on the dash.

We are also putting together a display of all the Fallen Soldiers names so that we can display them at the Truck Shows for whom the truck is for. So if you know of some names please let us know. Also some other little things.

The guys at the Chrome Shop Mafia or also known as 4 State Trucks are going to be doing alot of this work. We also have several worthly organizations donating money for this cause which includes Soldiers Angels, MOPH- Military Order of the Purple Heart, Uhaul and RockWood.

As you can imagine, this project is going to cost quite a bit of money - Sean and Diane still need about $8,000 to finish the truck.

If you'd like to help, you can donate through PayPal - the address to send to is dimcendree-AT-hotmail.com. Why not be a part of this unique and heartfelt memorial?

I'll bring you updates as I get them - or you can check them out yourself at Sean and Diane's website - fallenheroessemi.com

Related Sites:
Article mentioning Sean's truck - at etrucker.com (scroll down to middle of page)

Sgt. Meza's page at Fallen Heroes Memorial

Labels: Fallen Heroes, Sean McEndree, tributes