U.S. Army combat veteran David Sterling normally doesn’t struggle with words, but he was speechless Saturday when he was presented with a customized Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the 27th annual Thunderstruck Xtreme Bike & Car Show in Medford.

Before this weekend, the 42-year-old had been unable to ride a motorcycle for the past two decades.

Niineteen years ago, Sterling’s unit was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in Al Anbar Province in Iraq. The blast severed Sterling’s right hand at the wrist and peppered his arms, legs, neck and face with shrapnel. He spent six months recovering at Walter Reed Military Medical Hospital in Maryland.

A lifelong biker, Sterling said the hardest part about being injured — he lost his arm below the elbow — was losing the freedom that came with hitting the open road on two wheels.

On Saturday, surrounded by bikers and fellow veterans, Sterling was asked to face away from the unveiling of his bike — a custom-painted, rust-colored 2011 Harley-Davidson Road King valued at $65,000 — while Thunderstruck Custom Bikes owner and custom bike builder Mark Daley climbed onto the bike and revved the engine.

As the sound grew louder, Sterling wiped a tear, and the crowd whooped and hollered.

Sterling, who flew in for Saturday’s event from his home in Iola, Kansas, knew the bike was being built as part of the Southern Oregon-based Combat Hero Bike Build program. He came to Southern Oregon in February to be fitted for the bike and to talk with Daly about needed modifications. But, he said, Saturday’s ceremony was more emotional than he expected. 

Sterling’s friend and fellow soldier, William Labadie of Gig Harbor, Washington, who served with him in Iraq, was on hand for the ceremony.

“I’m one of those people who usually doesn’t have a problem coming up with s**t to say, but I, uh … I’m speechless. My legs still feel like Jell-O. And then having my buddy Billy, here — we served together — and my wife. It’s just amazing,” he said. “I’m extremely humbled and thankful and really at a loss for words how to explain what I’m feeling.”

With a grin on his face, Daley said he had looked forward to presenting the bike to Sterling since meeting him in February.

Daley has partnered with Combat Hero Bike Build, which builds bikes for veterans all over the U.S., since it was founded by Grants Pass Marine veteran John Barker in 2013.

Daley was the first bike builder to offer his services. While the bike show has always raised money for the community — in recent years for Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson and Josephine counties — Daley said partnering with the Combat Hero Bike Build was a natural fit.

Saturday’s show was held behind Rogue Regency Inn & Suites on Biddle Road, with more than 100 custom cars and over 125 motorcycles on display.

This was the first time the Combat Hero Build Bike had presented a bike to a veteran during the show.

For each Combat Hero bike, Daly designs modifications to allow the rider to maneuver the bike in spite of their injuries. In Sterling’s case, Daley relocated the throttle, usually on the right handlebar, next to the brake foot pedal.

Even with a busy shop and other bikes to build, Daley never hesitates to volunteer for the Combat Hero build projects.

“Who doesn’t want to help with something like this? I was all over it on day one,” said Daley.

“They don’t hesitate to go over and fight for our freedom. … This is one way we can give some of theirs back. We’ve built bikes for guys who have lost both legs. When you get them to be able to ride again, so that they can get out on the road and clear their head … they’re totally different people.”

Barker said Sterling’s reaction Saturday embodied the reason he started Combat Hero Bike Build in 2013. A Marine veteran, Barker was helping host a custom motorcycle show at Camp Pendleton that year.

“I used to be stationed down there, so I got invited to go down and put on a motorcycle show. I’d been in the Marine Corps, so they put me with all the wounded Marines,” Barker said.

“They were looking at these nice, shiny bikes and they couldn’t ride. I felt about a half-inch tall. … I went back home and had to do something about it. … A friend of mine in Texas said, ‘Let’s do it.’ We didn’t have the money. We didn’t have a bike. We didn’t have a vet. … Eight months later, we gave away our first bike.”

Terry Sharp, Combat Hero Bike Build treasurer, pointed out Saturday that Sterling’s bike was No. 32. Sharp traveled from Florida Saturday for the presentation. He and Barker presented Sterling with a custom leather vest, outfitted with military insignia, and a helmet along with the bike.

Nearly as heartwarming as giving a bike to a wounded vet, Sharp said, was the camaraderie and sense of community among bikers and veterans at Saturday’s show.

Moments before the Harley was unveiled, Sharp teased Sterling, shouting, ‘Don’t turn around, it’s a Honda!’”

Even after a decade of helping provide custom-built bikes to wounded veterans, Sharp said each story is special. Sharp said the bikes are a small gesture of thanks in exchange for life-altering sacrifices.

“To all motorcycle riders, they understand the feeling of being on a bike and having the wind on their face. There’s a freedom you can get out there on the open road, on small back roads, climbing through the hills, going around curves, that you can’t get anywhere else,” Sharp said.

“They come home after serving — and some of them have ridden before and some haven’t — but they’ve given up on that dream of riding. They know they can’t do it. Combat Hero Bike Build gives back the dream of being able to ride. … It gives back a little bit of the freedom that they lost while fighting for ours.”

To donate to Combat Hero Bike Build, see combatherobikebuild.org/ or thunderstruckcustombikes.com/

Editor’s note: This story had been updated to correct the spelling of Mark Daley’s name.