ERIC BRADY The Roanoke Times

D-Day veteran Mills Hobbs of Cloverdale welcomes Afghanistan veteran Jason Clary as they admire Clary's truck that Junior Henegar (left) helped renovate as a surprise for his soldier friend.

REBECCA BARNETT The Roanoke Times

"He's risking his life over there and doesn't ask for a thing in return," said Junior Henegar as he marked a tire for his friend Jason Clary's truck.

Richard Henegar Jr. looked a little pale as the minutes ticked down toward the big moment.

Toward the culmination, the climax and risky unveiling.

"I feel like I'm going to puke," he said. "I'm excited. Nervous. Ready to get it over with."

Henegar paced. People call him Junior. His father, Richard Henegar Sr., owns and operates Quality Auto Paint & Body in Roanoke. Junior manages the shop. His mother, Sheri Henegar, staffs the office.

On Thursday night, Junior, his parents and about two dozen others waited to spring a surprise on Jason Clary, 25. Clary had returned to Roanoke that very afternoon after a one-year tour in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army. Junior had spearheaded a three-month makeover of his childhood friend's 2002 Nissan Frontier pickup -- an effort supported by donations of money and materials, sweat equity from friends and family, and a bikini car wash.

People said they pitched in because they care about Clary and wanted to demonstrate in a tangible way their gratitude for all American veterans and those still in harm's way.

Clary's girlfriend, Roanoke native Holly Bennett, 23, ensured that Clary not show up at the shop until 7 p.m. Thursday.

Junior drank a beer and waited. He said he might not want to witness Clary's first reaction and considered hiding behind a roll-up door with everybody else, including his parents, Tommy and Rhonda Clary.

In the end, about 7:30 p.m., Clary and Junior walked in together.

'Kind of grungy looking'

Clary is a specialist with the 82nd Airborne Division. He served the past three months in Kandahar province -- a Taliban stronghold and primary target for U.S. forces. The region has long been besieged by intense, bloody combat.

In June, Clary's mother, Rhonda, said, "It's best if I don't listen to the news."

Jason Clary returned Aug. 26 to Fort Bragg, N.C., and was released Thursday to travel to his family's home in Troutville. He will likely be redeployed at some point but does not know where.

All accounts suggest Clary's feelings for his pickup truck have been strong. In June, Bennett said her beau turned twitchy whenever she drove the Frontier. With some trepidation, she endorsed the makeover.

"The interior was definitely kind of grungy looking," Bennett said.

The overhaul began in June and ended just recently. Henegar estimated the project consumed about 300 man-hours or nearly 38 eight-hour days. Costs totaled about $10,000, he said, with about half of that covered by donations and in-kind contributions.

The changes included new paint, military-themed airbrushing, new tires, a monster sound system, stainless steel headers and a stainless steel exhaust system, a spray-in bed liner and much more.

The airbrushing references Clary's platoon's adopted nickname, The Misfits, with a 1/508 referring to his battalion and regiment.

'Junior'

In May, Clary had savored 15 days of R&R at home. After Clary returned to Afghanistan, his friend Junior started scheming.

The two had attended middle school together. They became close friends at Lord Botetourt High School. Both ran track.

Junior Henegar, 25, seems to be outfitted with some sort of subatomic, subcutaneous power plant. He moves fast and talks fast. He's wiry and tattooed. He's someone for whom an ear-slung Bluetooth device seems nearly as necessary as breathing.

"That kid's been wired since Day One," his father said.

Starting in May, Junior courted sponsors, bird-dogged logistics and labored nights and weekends on the truck, assisted by co-workers, Clary's friends such as John Cassady, by Bennett and by Clary's parents.

Many others pitched in, scraping knuckles and sweating rivers in the muggy heat.

Bennett and Clary met in July 2009 at a downtown Roanoke nightclub. They've had a sort of quintessential wartime romance. They decided on Aug. 26, 2009, to become "an official couple." Clary left for Afghanistan three days later.

Bennett has communicated regularly with him since.

"Every time I've talked to him he sounded super optimistic," Bennett said in June. "There's only been one time when he seemed really down."

Henegar's fan club includes Rhonda Clary.

"I love his energy," she said in June. "I love his personality. He doesn't meet a stranger."

She shared additional thoughts Thursday before the unveiling of her son's refurbished truck.

"Having the gift of friendship is great, but Richard has gone above and beyond to do something for Jason that will mean so much to him," she said.

'Welcome home'

At 7:30 p.m., Clary and Junior came through the door. Clary stopped. Junior peeled off. Clary walked tentatively toward the pickup and yes, his jaw dropped. Subtly. After a quick inspection, he turned and hugged Henegar.

"I had no clue," he said. "It's amazing. It's awesome."

He beamed. Henegar beamed.

The roll-up door ascended and the surprise contingent poured out. Tears started to roll.

Sheri Henegar waited her turn for a hug and bragged a bit about Junior.

"My son has got the biggest heart," she said. "I feel like his dad and I must have done a good job."

Mills Hobbs waited nearby. When Hobbs' division went ashore on D-Day's bloody Omaha Beach he was three years younger than the fellow soldier he had come to honor.

He wrapped his arms around Clary. Hobbs' eyes brimmed with tears.

"Welcome home, buddy," he said. "We are proud of you."