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Tammy Karl wanted an unforgettable gift to celebrate her U.S. Marine Corps husband’s return from a third tour of duty in Iraq. She contacted GatorWraps Inc., Ontario, Calif., to ask if the company could deck Staff Sergeant Jacob Karl’s beloved 1997 Ford F-250 truck in his favorite hunting camouflage pattern—before his homecoming August 7. After hearing about Karl’s 13 years of Marine service, most recently in training Iraqi police, GatorWraps signed on for active duty.
GatorWraps had the know-how, and quickly formed a partnership with Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Products Division, Painesville, Ohio, maker of digital printing products, and Mossy Oak Inc., West Point, Miss., manufacturer of hunting and outdoors clothing in the Mossy Oak Break-Up® camouflage pattern. Avery Graphics donated MPI 1005 EZ RS film and DOL 1100 matte overlaminate, a high-quality vinyl that can be adjusted or removed without injury to existing paint. Mossy Oak licensed the Break-Up pattern for the project, and threw in new truck interior covers, supplies and clothing for Staff Sgt. Karl. GatorWraps completed the custom vehicle wrap, and other businesses got into the act. Gale Banks Engineering, Azusa, Calif., donated a Stinger® 2 Power System to increase the truck’s towing capacity, TAG Motorsports of Escondido, Calif., installed the upgrade and fixed the lift kit and steering to boot, and Herbie Auto Detailing cleaned and polished the chrome. “Ultimately what we are doing for Staff Sgt. Karl is very little compared to what he has done for us,” says Joel Ross, marketing communication manager for Avery Graphics.