Today we honor those who have served to defend our nation. The founder of Gamblin Motors, Art Gamblin, was a veteran of WWII. Art was eager to defend his country, so eager that he lied about his age to enter the war at age 17. He joined the United States Navy in 1945. He was assigned to serve on the USS Maryland. When Art reached the USS Maryland, she had just returned from a hard fought battle in Okinawa and was being repaired in Bremerton, Washington at the Puget Sound Navy Yard. The crew worked to repair the ship and was completing training runs to return to battle when Japan surrendered. Art had the honor of participating in Operation Magic Carpet, a mission to bring servicemen home from the war. The USS Maryland made runs between Pearl Harbor and the west coast in the latter part of 1945. After the war, Art continued his active duty by being assigned to vessels in New Orleans. Here, Art gave the public tours of the ships, and in true Art fashion, his tours always managed to inspire a tip which was shared with his fellow servicemen that night on the town. Art was proud of his time in the Navy, and we are proud to honor him and those who fought for freedom both at home and abroad.