Sgt. Dane Kaimuloa believes that one mistake may have cost him a lifetime of regret, but he's honoring the dead in an amazing way. While on a mission in 2006, Kaimuloa acted as eyes by running a drone camera, but didn't catch one IED. The humvee he was guiding triggered the explosive, and he watched as men were blasted into the air. Three of his fellow soldiers died. And even though he was told that he was not to blame for the horrific accident, the guilt still haunts him.
But he knew that he had to honor the servicemen somehow. Three years ago, the veteran covered his truck with the faces of all 4,422 troops killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the three he feels responsible for.
He tells LitteThings, "The reason why I made the Memorial Truck was for all the men and women that died in Iraq and Afghanistan who didn't make it home like me and to keep their memories alive, so when we are enjoying the holidays we keep them in mind and remember the price for freedom isn't free."
Since then, he has run out of room on his truck, though more soldiers have died — so he's decided to add a cover to the mobile memorial.
And it seems like his efforts to remember the lives sacrificed are not in vain: a woman in the car in the lane beside his truck broke into tears when she saw the picture of her son's face on the vehicle's door. She was thankful that he was not forgotten.
He tells us that the Memorial Truck will soon be on display in a museum, either at Camp Pendleton or MCRD San Diego.
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