Wounded Warrior Getting a New Truck

Justin Gaertner, a young military veteran , is getting new wheels.

In a recent campaign, , a dealership in Holiday on U.S. 19 at Gulf Trace Boulevard, raised money to help cover the cost of donating a truck to the wounded warrior whose family lives in Trinity.

On Memorial Day, Joe Reth, general manager of Sun Toyota, presented Gaertner, 23, with the keys and license platre to a Toyota Tundra Platinum CrewMax 4x4 truck outfitted with adaptive equipment to help him drive, although the truck isn’t ready for him to pick up yet.   

“We believe that we don’t want anybody to forget a local hero,” Reth said, making the presentation at a Memorial Day event at the dealership.

On Nov. 26, 2010, Gaertner, a Mitchell High alumnus, was a lance corporal in the Marines and serving in the Marja district in Afghanistan. He was sweeping for mines when he was caught in an explosion. The explosion, the third to strike his convoy, destroyed his legs. His left arm was severely injured and needed reconstructive surgery.

Gaertner now has eight pairs of prosthetic legs. He can walk, surf and snowboard and recently won medals in the 2012 Warrior Games. He hates the words “disability” and “handicap.”

Gaertner said he already had a truck, a Ford F-150 pickup, but he wasn't able to drive it after the explosion. He had to rely on friends, taxis, buses to get him places.

This new truck will be lower to the ground and easier to get into. It will have hand controls, dual climate control and backup camera.

“This truck is going to let me do whatever I want,” Gaertner said to a gaggle of journalists.

Gaertner lives in the Washington, D.C. area and is doing an internship, but he traveled down to Florida and accepted the gift.

Gaertner was escorted from his family's home in Trinity to the presentation ceremony at Sun Toyota by the Florida Patriot Guard Riders.

Reth said the Tundra itself cost about $60,000, and the adaptive equipment cost an additional $14,000. The dealership is picking up a good portion of the cost. The truck was missing parts Monday, but the hope was to have it ready Thursday for pickup.

This isn’t the first time Sun Toyota has reached out to help Gaertner. The dealership was a supporter of the last year, which raised money for Gaertner’s family. The grandson of one of the dealership’s owners knows Justin’s little brother. Reth came up with the Tundra giveaway and opened fundraising on Earth Day of this year.

Gaertner said he is planning to attend school at Florida State College in Jacksonville, concentrating on homeland security and business. He had words of wisdom to recently injured veterans.

“There’s always going to be someone there to help you."

Editor's note: At New Port Richey Patch, we recognize that businesses are part of the community, too. That's why we're putting the spotlight on those that are doing good in the neighborhood. Keep your eyes open for the next Charitable Business Spotlight and don't forget to let us know who you think we should feature next!