Freedom Vehicles Association
Vernon Stout
801-427-7445
vstout@freedomvehicles.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 5-24-2017
Proud American – Vietnam War Gun Truck Comes to Utah to honor Veterans
Orem, Utah – To honor U.S. soldiers this Memorial Day, Freedom Vehicles Association will be providing a new home in Orem Utah for the very rare and unique Vietnam War gun truck “Proud American”. This Memorial Day as the United States is remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces, Freedom Vehicles Association will be receiving the Proud American tribute gun truck. This truck left Columbus, Georgia at 10:00 am on May 24th and will be arriving in Orem where it will be used by Freedom Vehicles Association to honor veterans and educate our youth about freedom and the sacrifices made by our military to maintain this nation’s freedom.
The Vietnam War Gun Truck tells a story that every young American should know and understand. The men who crewed gun trucks showed through their actions how citizens of the United States should feel about freedom and how they should treat their friends, neighbors, and even those they don’t know.
About the Proud American Tribute Gun Truck
In 2009 Larry Board owner of Columbus Towing and Recovery Inc. heard the story of the Proud American and got to know 1Lt Ralph Fuller from the crew of this gun truck. Larry was touched by the story, and recognized that gun truck crewmen needed to be remembered and honored for their effort to seek situation where they could protect their fellow soldiers. In their honor, the Proud American Tribute Truck was built later in 2009 by Larry in Columbus, Georgia and has been used for the past eight years in parades and veteran memorial events. Since its completion most of the veterans for which the truck was originally built have passed away or are too sick to come to events. In April 2017 Larry offered to donate the tribute truck to Freedom Vehicles Association of Orem Utah where it will be displayed at events throughout Utah and continue to honor all those who served in Vietnam to defend freedom.
The Proud American Gun Truck is being transported from Georgia to Freedom Vehicles headquarters in Orem, UT with sponsorship by Orem CARE and will make its first debut at the Freedom Vehicles Military Outpost July 1st through 4th in Orem, UT at SCERA Park.
What is a Gun Truck and Why
One of the most challenging aspects of war is moving equipment and supplies to where they are needed. To provide troops in Vietnam the needed 90,000 tons of supplies each month, transportation groups drove truck convoys on some of the most treacherous roads in recorded history, these roads are known as Ambush Alley. The gun truck was an infield modification where the motor pool would outfit regular cargo trucks with as much armor and fire power as they could find; the Proud American was one of these trucks.
History of Proud American
On February 20, 1971 the remaining crew of the recently destroyed Satan’s Lil’ Angel was asked to build a new security support vehicles (aka gun truck) by the commander of the 523rd Transportation Company; Captian Donald Voightritter (Captain V). Within 20 days SP4 Robert Thorne (driver) and Calvin Bennet (first gunner) with help from the 523rd motor pool built a new truck using the remnants of Lil’ Angle and filled out the crew by adding SP4 “Mac” McDonald (second gunner) and SP5 Nelson Allen as NCO in charge . This new truck was outfitted with a steel plate gun box and cab and was armed with an M60 along with two .50 caliber M2HB machine guns and was named The Proud American.
March 12, 1971 the Proud American went into active service providing security for a convoy leaving Vandergrift Combat Base even though previous convoys that day had received fire. The crew of Proud American knew that they were responsible for protecting the convoy and that they would be taking live fire on this trip. On board Proud American were the crew, the convoy commander 1Lt James Baird, Captain V and several men from the 523rd.
Shortly after leaving Vandergrift FSB Proud American was the first vehicle to be targeted by an ambush. A B-40 rocket propelled grenade hit the truck between the gun box and driver side door mortally wounding Thorne the driver, but not before he drove the truck into an embankment saving the lives of everyone else on the truck. Baird who was on the radio at the time of the attack was badly injured eventually losing his arm, and McDonald received wounds to his face. Callahan got Baird on a stretcher and 1Lt Ralph Fuller from the Daughter of Darkness gun truck called in a Medivac, using his gun truck to transport Baird to a better location, Baird was air lifted back to Vandergrift.
After the battle SP4 Robert W. Thorne was removed from the truck and was taken to Vandergrift on the gun truck Black Widow. Thorne was from Denver, Colorado and will always be 20 years old.
Freedom Vehicles Association will continue to tell the story of Robert Thorne and all who served defending freedom in Vietnam and all other 20th century conflicts.
Extra Links
Freedom Vehicles Mission Statement – https://www.freedomvehicles.org/about-us/
Freedom Vehicles Goals – https://www.freedomvehicles.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/The-Freedom-Vehicles-Living-History-Military-Adventure-Park-2-23-2017.pdf
Sponsors – https://www.freedomvehicles.org/sponsors/
How you can Help – https://www.freedomvehicles.org/volunteer/
Vernon Stout
801-427-7445
vstout@freedomvehicles.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 5-24-2017
What is a Gun Truck and Why
One of the most challenging aspects of war is moving equipment and supplies to where they are needed. To provide troops in Vietnam the needed 90,000 tons of supplies each month, transportation groups drove truck convoys on some of the most treacherous roads in recorded history, these roads are known as Ambush Alley. The gun truck was an infield modification where the motor pool would outfit regular cargo trucks with as much armor and fire power as they could find; the Proud American was one of these trucks.
History of Proud American
On February 20, 1971 the remaining crew of the recently destroyed Satan’s Lil’ Angel was asked to build a new security support vehicles (aka gun truck) by the commander of the 523rd Transportation Company; Captian Donald Voightritter (Captain V). Within 20 days SP4 Robert Thorne (driver) and Calvin Bennet (first gunner) with help from the 523rd motor pool built a new truck using the remnants of Lil’ Angle and filled out the crew by adding SP4 “Mac” McDonald (second gunner) and SP5 Nelson Allen as NCO in charge . This new truck was outfitted with a steel plate gun box and cab and was armed with an M60 along with two .50 caliber M2HB machine guns and was named The Proud American.
March 12, 1971 the Proud American went into active service providing security for a convoy leaving Vandergrift Combat Base even though previous convoys that day had received fire. The crew of Proud American knew that they were responsible for protecting the convoy and that they would be taking live fire on this trip. On board Proud American were the crew, the convoy commander 1Lt James Baird, Captain V and several men from the 523rd.
Shortly after leaving Vandergrift FSB Proud American was the first vehicle to be targeted by an ambush. A B-40 rocket propelled grenade hit the truck between the gun box and driver side door mortally wounding Thorne the driver, but not before he drove the truck into an embankment saving the lives of everyone else on the truck. Baird who was on the radio at the time of the attack was badly injured eventually losing his arm, and McDonald received wounds to his face. Callahan got Baird on a stretcher and 1Lt Ralph Fuller from the Daughter of Darkness gun truck called in a Medivac, using his gun truck to transport Baird to a better location, Baird was air lifted back to Vandergrift.
After the battle SP4 Robert W. Thorne was removed from the truck and was taken to Vandergrift on the gun truck Black Widow. Thorne was from Denver, Colorado and will always be 20 years old.
Freedom Vehicles Association will continue to tell the story of Robert Thorne and all who served defending freedom in Vietnam and all other 20th century conflicts.
Extra Links
Freedom Vehicles Mission Statement – https://www.freedomvehicles.org/about-us/
Freedom Vehicles Goals – https://www.freedomvehicles.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/The-Freedom-Vehicles-Living-History-Military-Adventure-Park-2-23-2017.pdf
Sponsors – https://www.freedomvehicles.org/sponsors/
How you can Help – https://www.freedomvehicles.org/volunteer/ 
