Decatur - He lost both legs fighting in Afghanistan. President Obama personally presented him with a purple heart and a combat action badge. Thursday, he got what he wanted most. His dream car.
24 year old Corey Kent picked up the keys to his new 2012 Limited Edition Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Coupe from Bob Brady Dodge in Decatur. The dealership helped obtain the car for Kent and donated a portion of the purchase price.
"It was a little more than I expected," said Kent after his first ride in the vehicle. "I was surprised. I was surprised to see what it could do."
Bob Brady Dodge Vice President Steve Gensler and owner Bob Brady heard of Kent's desire to purchase the car and stepped in to help. "This is his dream car. So, guess what? We're glad to help. Especially for a veteran," Gensler told WAND News. "It makes me feel good. I'm a veteran myself."
The detonation of an improvised explosive device caused Kent to lose both legs and most of the fingers on his left hand. Kent has undergone 75 surgeries and faces several more operations. He will also have to undergo extensive skin grafting. He works through rehabilitation five days a week.
His new car will be modified with special hand controls. "The closest thing I can compare it to is boat controls," Kent told WAND. "I push forward to brake. And I pull back for gas."
The Limited Edition Dodge Challenger SRT is one of the fastest cars on the road. But Kent laughs when he is asked if he'll end up with a lot of speeding tickets. "I'm going to try to take it easy. But I can't promise anything."
