Local auto students complete work on soldier’s car

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

March 21 is the date of the big reveal as soldier comes home
The Emery High auto shop has been working overtime to make sure the car of a soldier returning home on leave is complete. The project has been ongoing throughout the school year. The soldier is Jason Judd and he will be returning home on leave. The project completion is a total surprise for Judd as he has no idea of what has been done in his absence. The car was recently painted by the auto shop students and it is ready for the big reveal on March 21.
Judd was born July 8, 1983 in Page, Ariz. to Janna and Kerry Judd. His family moved to Castle Dale, in 1985 and he received all his schooling from pre-school to high school graduation in 2001 in Emery County. Judd loved sports and was involved with little league, junior high and high school football. He participated on the cross country and regular track team. Judd was a good student and liked art and math. After graduation he attended HI-Tech institute in Phoenix, Ariz. and received his degree in the CAD program.
Staying in Phoenix after graduation he began working for Thomas Reprographics and later for an architect firm. In October of 2004, Jason joined the army and began his military career. He completed his basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. and completed his AIT training there as well. He was later stationed at Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, Hawaii. Serving in Iraq was inevitable and the 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 1-27th (Stryker) Infantry Regiment began preparations for deployment.
The story of Judd’s car began when he had finished Hi-Tech. It was his first car that he purchased on his own. He loved driving around Phoenix and going on road trips. After joining the military he left his car in Phoenix under the care of some relatives who began driving the car and ended up in an accident getting t-boned.
The car was transported from Arizona to Utah by his sister Jennifer Barlow and was repaired by replacing two doors, the driver’s seat, back windshield and the rocker panel on the driver’s side. The car was used by Judd and other family until last summer when the engine blew up on Soldiers Summit. The car was then towed to J&D auto in Castle Dale.
Derri Jewkes of J&D Auto talked to Mike Kava, the auto shop teacher about doing a project and one thing led to another and the car was fixed and will be ready to reveal to Jason while he is on leave this month. There will be an escorted procession up Spartan Center Street to the high school where the car will be revealed.
Family, friends and community are invited to attend this event with a special thank you to the individuals and businesses that made it possible. All wishing to attend should come to the high school auto shop by 11:30 am. Participants will be directed where to park and where to wait. There will be a bar-b-que lunch and band following the reveal and all are welcome to stay and visit and have lunch.
This is an opportunity to thank Judd for his service to his country and to those who so generously gave time and money to make this event happen. Jason is the grandson of Norma Price Dastrup and Jim Price (deceased).
Everyone is welcome to come out and welcome home a soldier and share in his surprise at the restoration of his vehicle.
Kava said, “The kids have done a really good job on this project. They got behind it and really worked hard. It meant something more to them. This soldier is helping them out and helping out our country so they wanted to help do something for him. They took real pride in their work. More so than if they were just working on a regular car. A lot of the students want to be there when the car is revealed. We are going to get the car washed this week and put on the finishing touches so it will be ready for Saturday. After they escort the soldier to the auto shop they are going to knock on the door and we’ll drive the car out. It is a big surprise for him.”