This Operation Iraqi Freedom tribute truck is "Standin' Proud" atop a Kelderman Air Ride suspension kit. It features airbrushed murals along with the names of every soldier killed during the conflict in Iraq.
This '99 Ford F-350 is not just a pretty show truck that sits on a stage, it's also a rolling tribute to the soldiers we have lost during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Super Duty is owned by Matt Jones of Stewardson, Illinois, and can be seen smoking all four tires simultaneously when the crowds of admirers give him enough room to drop the hammer on his 7.3L Power Stroke engine.
Matt has always been a patriot and wanted to build a show truck with a stars-and-stripes theme, but it needed to have more meaning behind the design than a typical blinged-out show rig sprayed with red, white, and blue. When the fighting started during Operation Iraqi Freedom, it was decided this Ford would serve Super Duty by becoming a canvas for the names of soldiers who die during this conflict. Airbrush specialist Mickey Harris was brought in to paint the murals along with a list of the names of every U.S. soldier lost during the war. Matt and his friend Larry Vonderhiede handled the rest of the painting, including the work on the undercarriage, which Matt says was the hardest section to prep and paint.
 Owner Matt Jones says getting...  Owner Matt Jones says getting the powered tonneau cover to work was one of the most difficult parts of the truck build. The Cover Master bed top uses reversed hinges and air cylinders to make the cap lift up and clear the tailgate. |  Grille inserts by Stull Industries...  Grille inserts by Stull Industries improve the face of the Super Duty along with painted bumper sections. APC headlamps and corner lights also change the look of the front end. |  Mickey Harris airbrushed the...  Mickey Harris airbrushed the tribute murals and the names of fallen soldiers. Matt and Larry Vonderhiede completed the paint job, including the clearcoat to protect the airbrush work. |
 The Kelderman Air Ride kit...  The Kelderman Air Ride kit replaces the front leaf springs with adjustable long-travel air bags. It also adds remote reservoir Bilstein shocks and longer trailing arms to keep the axle from wandering under the truck. The large chrome wheels are 20x12-inch Weld Cheyenne rims with 38x15.50 Nitto Mud Grappler tires. |  The four-link rear suspension...  The four-link rear suspension by Kelderman looks wild, but is completely bolt-on. It comes with airbags to replace the leaf springs, heavy duty suspension links, a sway bar, and a beefy crossmember with a notch to clear the rear driveshaft. |  |