Disabled marine surprised with truck to put him on the road to recovery

The price of freedom is high for veterans like John McLellan, disabled in the line of duty.

“The last deployment to Afghanistan, I sustained brain damage from an IED explosion,” he said. “The headaches are dreadful and migraines are even worse.”

So this Marine vet is excited to drive his silver truck to the treatment he desperately needs in Colorado. It’s a trip his vehicle wasn’t ready to make.

“It was leaking all over the place,” said Jim Thompson. “We saw what needed to be done and he couldn’t afford.”

Thompson couldn’t let a hero go without. “I told him, ‘I don’t want you to worry about a thing. We got you. The Savage family’s coming together. We got you.”

Within hours, Thompson’s autobody business was working, not only to fix, but soup up McLellan’s ride, free of charge to the veteran.

“They all did more than enough. I got my truck back with a full tank of gas,” McLellan said. “This is something they did out of the goodness of their heart.”

RELATED: Hero Project delivers joy on four wheels to veterans, first responders

To thank them, “He gave us a backpack that had been with him through his tours overseas,” Thompson said. “He went about telling me what it’s been through…and he goes, ‘This is everything to me.’ And I’m like…it’s definitely heartfelt,” Thompson said through tears.

Heartfelt and hanging on the wall inside Thompson’s business, reminding us that we can serve those who served us.

The Thompsons created “The Hero Project” charity to provide veterans with free autobody services. You can find more emotional moments as they surprise vets and get involved by visiting their website, here.