Columbiana man honors veterans’ legacy with eye-catching ride

COLUMBIANA, Ohio (WKBN) – A Columbiana man is turning heads each time he makes a stop at the gas station. His ride is sure to catch your eye but after all, that’s the point.

Long before the Delorean ever traveled back in time, the Jeep M38 was making its own mark on history.

“It drives like a ’51 Jeep,” Patrick Murphy said. “About 35 miles per hour.”

A ride that was as American-made as the American behind the wheel.

“There’s no lane assist in this,” Murphy said.

Murphy served in the Army from 1968 to 1970 and has his own army of these Jeeps that made the journey with him through the jungle, each with its own meaning.

“That Jeep is known as Uncle Mike’s Jeep. This here is Grandpa’s Jeep,” Murphy said.

Uncle Mike is his brother, Mike Murphy. And Grandpa? That’s his father-in-law, James Waller — a member of the greatest generation.

“He’s a World War II veteran. He actually drove the Higgins boat that landed on the beaches,” Murphy said.

While America celebrated the 80th anniversary of D-Day earlier this year, Murphy’s Jeep honors that legacy each time the rubber touches the road.

“I get kind of emotional about it because it’s hard to believe that people had that much courage to do that,” he said.

Murphy has made it his mission to make sure that memory is never forgotten.

“The ones that paid the price don’t talk about it hardly at all,” he said. “I think the legacy that my father-in-law left behind, everybody should be proud of that. Everybody should be proud of every soldier that landed on the beach. You gotta think, those soldiers were 18 and 19 years old.”

Same goes for the spirit of his brother, passing away just two years ago.

“He joked all the time,” Murphy said. “I miss his phone calls more than anything.”

So this Fourth of July, don’t be shocked if you see Murphy cruising around with the top down and a smile on his face.

“I’m a firm believer that we owe it to our veterans to remember their deeds and remember their sacrifices,” he said.

From a man whose patriotism shows up in droves as he drives.

“We believe in our family, that as long as someone remembers you, you’re not dead. It’s when people quit remembering you, that’s when you’re actually dead,” he said.

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