Orlando, Fla. / October 21, 2014 – Jet Aviation presented a Wounded Warrior with a one-of-akind John Deere “Gator” today – a four-wheel drive, off-road vehicle uniquely customized by aviation craftsmen to restore some of the mobility lost when the soldier’s left leg was amputated because of wounds from combat in Afghanistan.
In its second annual Honoring a Wounded Warrior project unveiled at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention, Jet Aviation presented the spectacular vehicle to former Army Sgt. Nathan Shumaker of Herculaneum, Mo. The ceremony honoring the sacrifice of Shumaker and all armed-service veterans was attended by hundreds of aviation-industry representatives at the annual NBAA conference at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
Shumaker, 27, said the customized Gator exceeded anything he had imagined since he was chosen as the recipient in March and saw the stock Gator before it was customized.
"This is awesome," he said. "It's way beyond anything I was thinking." He said the completely redesigned and rebuilt front end reminded him of a military Humvee. Asked it that was all right, he smiled broadly and said, "It's perfect."
He said the Gator will allow him, his wife and their toddler son to enjoy more outdoor activities – especially hunting and fishing – that are currently difficult for him to navigate. Shumaker and his gun crew in the Bravo 3-321st Field Artillery Regiment with the 82nd Airborne were struck by a Taliban mortar shell in May 2010, wounding all eight soldiers. Shumaker suffered severe wounds to both legs and his abdomen, and his left leg was amputated above the knee. He spent 11 months in physical therapy and rehab at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. Never letting his injury impede him, Shumaker, the father of a toddler son, now attends college with a goal of becoming a counselor to assist veterans in getting all of the benefits they are entitled to – “veterans like me,” he says.
Chuck Krugh, senior vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation St. Louis – who conceived the project last year and leads the aviation craftsmen in the customization of the Gator at their facility – said the teams feel privileged to devote hundreds of hours of their time and expertise to honor military veterans.
“The Honoring a Wounded Warrior project has become something especially meaningful for us at Jet Aviation St. Louis,” Krugh said. “We’re proud to apply our skills and capabilities to honor the service and sacrifice of a Wounded Warrior, and of all servicemen and women. Every one of the many hours we dedicate to this project is our way of thanking and giving something back to those who give so much to our country. And we’re especially proud to make this presentation to Nathan.” Dubbed Operation Deere by the team at Jet Aviation St. Louis, the project involved the customization of almost every inch of the Gator, with some 50 changes or additions to the stock vehicle. Carbon fiber is a prevailing theme throughout the Gator, a direct link to the carbon fiber used in all of Shumaker’s prosthetic legs. Krugh said special elements that directly honor Shumaker’s service include the Purple Heart medal incorporated into the custom steering wheel, the “Touch Me Not” battalion logo on the grill, machined unit patches on frame supports, and hubcaps with the Army star. The team borrowed the name Shumaker’s gun crew gave its 155-millimeter, M777 A-1 Howitzer – the Big Nasty – for reflective tailgate plates.
The Jet Aviation St. Louis team also has repeated a special touch that has become a trademark of the Wounded Warrior projects. They incorporated the St. Louis Arch into a design combined with the Army Airborne “AA” symbol that stands behind the back seat and above the bed. Last year, the customized Harley Davidson motorcycle presented to a soldier in the first Honoring a Wounded Warrior project at NBAA in Las Vegas included a custom-made replica of the Arch as the sissy bar behind the seat.
The customization to the Gator includes a new hood, dashboard, center console, and roof – all made from carbon fiber – as well as:
• New front and rear seats
• Front-mounted winch
• Custom front brush guard
• Custom-painted front fenders that include the POW-MIA symbol
It also includes a long list of electronic additions operated through an aviation-grade electrical harness, including a stereo system with amplifier, tweeters and subwoofer; a backup camera, LED external lights, new lighting in the interior, and a navigation system. Mechanical improvements included a heavy-duty battery supplemented by a special accessory battery, custom in-frame auxiliary gas tank, and diamond-plate skid plates under the chassis. Special retainers for custom tools – a shovel, ax, and machete – are built into the design and a handgun vault is located in the dashboard.
Krugh noted that part of what makes the Wounded Warrior projects unique is the application of all of the specialties – engineering, design, metal working, painting, upholstery, cabinetry, avionics,
mechanics, and electronics – that the team uses to create some of the most beautiful and advanced aircraft in the world at Jet Aviation St. Louis.
“There are a lot of John Deere Gators, but there isn’t another one anything close to the one we’ve created,” Krugh said. “Not only does it honor Nathan’s sacrifice while restoring some of his lost mobility, but everyone who sees it will understand that it is a special tribute to all of the men and women who serve in our armed services.”
Jet Aviation is exhibiting at NBAA2014 from October 21 through October 23. Please take the time to visit the Jet Aviation Booth (#1200).
