Since the birth of the Heroes truck, Dale Ison and his wife Connie have met countless individuals from all walks of life who, in one way or another, are affected by and can relate to the images and scenes depicted on the truck. Some, however, can relate to these images more than others. In an ironic twist of fate, both Mr. and Mrs. Ison have had the extraordinary opportunity to actually meet individuals whose images are part of the Heroes truck artwork.
“There is a desert storm theme painted on the truck. We got that theme from Time Life Magazine,” explained Mr. Ison. “I was in Spokane, Washington when this gentleman named Everett Greyback walked up to me and said, ‘Thank you for painting me on your truck.’ I said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding!’ He said, ‘You know the four soldiers from desert storm on the back of your truck from Time Life Magazine?’ I said, ‘Yes sir, I sure do.’ He said, ‘Dale, I’m one of the soldiers.’
“Then, my wife was in Louisville, Kentucky at a show, and this gentleman walks up to her and says, ‘Ma am, thank you for painting my dad on your truck.’ She said, ‘Son, who is your dad on there?’ He says, ‘You know that sailor from World War 2 who’s leaning over and kissing a lady goodbye in Time Square? That’s my dad. He got killed right after that portrait was taken when he went back to war. God bless you for caring about my dad.’
“Then, my wife was in Phoenix. This lady walks up to her and told her that she was the daughter of the lady that the soldier leaned over and kissed goodbye. So, we met both sides of that portrait. It’s almost like a destiny meant to happen. I mean, what are the odds of us meeting these people on tour? It had to be fate.”
The image of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square that appears on the driver’s side of the Heroes truck was originally taken in a photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt on August 15, 1945. Eisenstaedt failed to get the names of this couple, but on the 50th anniversary of the photograph, the couple was identified as Edith Shain and Carl Muscarello.
Mr. Ison has traveled all over the U.S. with his truck. At this point, he has become accustomed to receiving invitations to display the Heroes truck from shows, but one particular invitation from a four-star general was something that Mr. Ison never expected. “General Mosey, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, four-star general invited me to the Pentagon,” said Mr. Ison. “Mickey Harris donated three oil paintings to the Pentagon. The general asked Mickey what artwork plans he had for the future. Mickey said, ‘I just got a heroes truck painted for Dale Ison. It honors the military, firemen, etc.’ The general says, ‘Do you think Dale would bring it to the Pentagon?’ Mickey says, ‘I know Dale will bring it if you invite him.’
“So General Mosey personally invited me there. I got to drive to center court. Five Pentagon police escorted me. It was the first time in history they gave clearance for a show vehicle to go inside the pentagon. I actually spent a half hour inside the general’s office, swat team at the door with their machine guns guarding. It was an unbelievable honor. He is a very busy man. Honestly, if he hadn’t spoken to me, I wouldn’t have been offended at all because he’s got a job to do right now. After speaking with him in his office, we went outside. First, Mickey donated the painting to them, and then we unveiled the Heroes truck. As we raised it up, it was playing ‘God Bless USA’ sang by Lee Greenwood with the American Flag underneath it. Mr. Mosey spent another half hour with me outside, and I thought that was awesome. I mean, I’m not used to being around that rank. What an honor!”
…to be continued.
Story & Photos by: Shannon Hammett
