HOUSTON – Three months ago Marine Corps veteran Mitch Akin couldn't even start the engine on his prize Dodge Ram 2500 turbo charged pickup. The entire truck had been ripped apart and trashed by thieves who stole it and then abandoned it.
After risking his life fighting for our country in Afghanistan, this was Akin's coming home present, his dream machine, and now it was destroyed.
Akin's father called Local 2 News for help, and that's when Local 2 started working to get Akin's truck completely rebuilt like new, calling car dealers and sending out emails to find someone willing to do the job and donate all the work.
That's when James Davis, the president of Gulfgate Dodge Chrysler Jeep, was found.
Davis could not wait to help, and he immediately put together a team of more than 25 men from several different companies, including his own dealership, to do the work absolutely free.
It took more than three months, and more than $25,000, but this week Local 2 was able to present a stunned Akin with his totally transformed Ram pickup truck.
"Oh my god, this is incredible," were the first words out of Akin's mouth as we drove his better-than-brand-new truck up the driveway at Gulfgate Dodge.
As a whole crowd of people screamed and cheered, Mitch checked out his new ride -- everything from the Bat Mobile-like bumpers to the custom chrome wheels, the giant new off road tires, the Pioneer, eight-speaker sound system, the custom poured bed liner and the gun metal gray paint job.
But what blew Akin away the most was the all new, all custom, stitched leather interior, complete with the Marine Corps seal sewn into every seat.
"This has got to be the best looking interior on any truck in America," Akin said. "How do you say thank you for something like this?"
Now Akin said he has his dream truck back and it looks better than he could ever have imagined.
The truck is restored, but more importantly, so is Akin's faith in the goodness of people.
"I just don't even know what to say. All the work and the time and the effort all of you have put into this project just for me, and you don't even know me," Akins said. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you."