Specialty Jeeps helping with raffle to benefit veterans
This 1951 M38 Korean War Jeep is being raffled off to raise money for the Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project and the Disabled American Veterans. Rules and other information can be found at www.jeepraffle.com. (Submitted)
Bruce Uher has a special place in his heart for veterans, and so did his friend, the late legendary country music star Charlie Daniels. Uher used to work for Daniels and the Charlie Daniels Band and now co-owns Specialty Jeeps in Coshocton with his son Bruce, Jr.
In 2013 Bruce Uher organized a block party to raise money to help purchase a van to be used to transport local veterans to and from doctor and VA hospital appointments. With the help of numerous people and organizations, an event was planned that included entertainment, food and fun. The highlight of the event was a concert by Confederate Railroad and the chance to win guitars and other memorabilia donated by Uher’s friends in the music industry including Daniels.
Before Daniels’ death in July 2020, he once again teamed up with Uher. Their goal was to plan a raffle to help Coshocton County veterans and raise funds for his Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project, which assists not-for-profit causes that provide veterans with rehabilitation, reintegration and opportunities as they transition to civilian life.
“Me and him were at a show and talking about doing something to help,” Uher said. “I came up with the idea for a raffle. He thought it was great, and we decided to do it.”
The item they decided to raffle off is a 1951 M38 Korean War Jeep and comes complete with a replica Browning 50-caliber machine gun and mount that fires by using propane and oxygen, a replica M1 Garand rifle mounted on the windshield, an M416 trailer with a trailer cover, an MP50 antenna mount and antenna, and pioneer tools (axe and shovel).
The restoration was complete by Friday, July 3, 2020, when Uher discussed with Daniels bringing the restored vehicle to Tennessee to get pictures and video with Daniels and the Jeep. Unfortunately, Daniels passed from a stroke the following Monday. Because the Jeep raffle was an idea Daniels loved and was looking forward to being involved with, Uher and his son, with the blessing of Daniels’ son Charlie, Jr. and his longtime manager David Corlew, decided to move forward with the raffle in Daniels’ honor.
Throughout 2021 the Jeep will be on display at a number of Jeep dealerships and events. Raffle tickets are $20 each and will be available at each event. Tickets also can be purchased online at www.jeepraffle.com. Additionally, tickets will be available at other locations, wherever “Beep Beep Win a Jeep” posters are on display. The winner will be drawn Dec. 1, 2021. Rules and other information can be found at www.jeepraffle.com.
“We are going to go national with this and try to raise a million dollars,” Uher said. “We will split the proceeds with our local DAV and Charlie’s project. The Jeep will be at Jeep Jamborees, a Charlie Daniels tribute show, and Jeep dealerships too. Before we restored the Jeep, it was just junk, but it’s amazing now. We restore Jeeps all over the world. We’ve shipped them to Africa, France and Japan.”
For rules and other information on the Jeep raffle, visit www.jeepraffle.com. Information about Specialty Jeeps in Coshocton can be found at www.specialtyjeeps.com.
Editor’s note: Josie Sellers contributed to this story.
Category: People & Places
