Family honors fallen Marine with patriotic pickup

MILITARY: Family honors fallen Marine with patriotic pickup
North County Times
By Lance Cpl. JOSEPH SCANLAN
1st Marine Division

David Vinnedge, father of Lance Cpl. Phillip Vinnedge, an antitank missile gunner who served with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, exits his 1951 Chevrolet 3100 pickup during a showcasing at Camp Pendleton on Sept. 13. Photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Scanlan, U.S. Marine Corps

The parents of a fallen Marine displayed a restored vintage Chevrolet pickup truck, painted with a patriotic mural, for the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in a showcasing aboard Camp Pendleton on Sept. 13.

David and Julie Vinnedge dedicated the truck to their son, Phillip, and the 24 other Marines of the battalion who were killed in Afghanistan in 2010.

Lance Cpl. Phillip Vinnedge, son of Julie and David, was an antitank missile gunner who served with Weapons Company, 3rd Bn., 5th Marines. He joined the Marine Corps with his parents' consent when he was 17 years old, as he was determined to join the military immediately after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Julie said she hopes the truck will also bring attention to service members who are fighting to keep the nation safe.

"I want people to remember our military," said Julie. "I want people [who] see anyone in uniform to go up and tell them, 'Thank you.' Give them a hug and tell them you appreciate what they are willing to do."
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