Contractor of the Month: April '09

This month we would like to recognize Scott Yates as Mercer's Contractor of the Month. His sensitivity, humanitarian spirit and dedication to serving Mercer and our country makes him an inspiration to everyone. Sometimes, it is worth it to go the extra mile, because you never know how just the little things can positively effect someone's life.

Contractor Relations Advocate, Jason Schaftlein, wrote, "I would like to nominate Scott Yates, unit 8089. He delivered a personal vehicle that belonged to a deceased soldier to the soldier's wife.  Scott went above and beyond the call of duty by washing the car before delivering it, and the wife of the soldier had nothing but good things to say about him.  Stories like this make me very proud of being a Mercer employee, and really helps me prove to others that we are the best Owner-Operator company in the industry."

Here is Scott's story:

Being a military veteran of 13 years, I had a lot in common with this delivery. I too was stationed at Ft. Stewart, GA where this load initiated. The wife was a former medic stationed there as well. We “chewed a lot of the same ground,” to coin a phrase..

My experience was not dramatic but emotions were in the air the entire time I was at the delivery. Mom was there with tears in her eyes, holding her grandson (just almost 2 years old). He didn’t understand that this was his “Daddy’s car.” It was amazing to him to see all the excitement at his house... Mom knew.

The daughter (the soldier's widow) was not there at first. She was trying to get along with her life, and had a chemistry test at a local college to take that morning. Trying to get a degree in teaching. As I was putting things away, she came home and immediately rushed outside to “thank me”, complete with a big hug and a handshake. That made the whole trip worth while. I think I would have done it for nothing if I knew that was the reception I was going to receive.

We parted and said our goodbyes. I left her there on the front porch holding her son. I just had to give a “toot” on the air horn for him, which left him with a smile. Washing the car was the least I could do. It was stored in a field for 2 years. It was supposed to be white but had just about all the colors of the rainbow on it: brown dirt, green mold, black mold, yellow pollen, grime and dirt from neglect and at the mercy of the harsh GA sun and humidity. 

Tons of paperwork had to be done in typical military fashion. This was her last memory of him. She lost her “memory box” during a military move by a military contracted moving company. Somehow that box never arrived, and she was deployed to Germany. 1 year later, when she got home it was far too late to try and make a claim with that trucking company. The statute of limitations had run out. This crummy old 2001 Honda Prelude with 170,000 + miles on it is all she has now. I wish I could have done more. Delivering it was a honor, not a job in my book..