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Local Soldier Accomplishes Childhood Goal

Just Prior To A Second Middle East Assignment

(October 16, 2007 – Lebanon, Tennessee)  Spanish Television host and reporter, Sheyla Paz Hicks, was busy with production of an international news story at Lebanon, Tennessee based Classic Cars Southeast when she became aware of a very special customer at the dealership.  She was producing a story that will air on the Telemundo network with focus on the American classic car phenomenon and its relationship to Cuba’s current use of the classic vehicles.  However, upon an introduction to Joseph Morra during his final stages of purchasing a 1969 Mustang Mach 1, this experienced reporter realized that her chance meeting with Joseph was an interesting story in itself and he quickly became an integral part of her script. 

Morra, a Warrant Officer assigned to the 5^th Battalion of the 101^st Aviation group at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, has a 15 year military career that goes all the way back to his Middle East experience in the early 90’s.  That’s when he was proud to be serving as a U.S. Marine Corporal during Desert Storm.  He is now an Army Warrant Officer with responsibilities as platoon leader with a Black Hawk Helicopter squadron.  He currently resides in Tennessee with his wife, Ellen, and their 4-month-old daughter, Michaelene. 

“I first saw this immaculate Mach 1 on E-Bay a few months ago”, said Morra, “however, I was on maneuvers and unable to initiate an official bid for the vehicle.”  He later learned that someone in Kentucky had won the bid.  Then, a few days ago he was at Classic Cars Southeast looking at their classic Mustangs only to discover that the very same vehicle he had seen on E-BAY was sitting right in front of him on the showroom floor.  Not wanting this “dream car” to slip through his fingers again, Morra quickly initiated purchase procedures.  Turns out another bit of irony was in this story, as the Mach 1 was a consignment vehicle at the dealership and the owner, who originally purchased the vehicle via E-Bay, was also once assigned to Fort Campbell as a member of the 101^st Airborne.  The owner and the dealership worked out a special transaction to ensure an expediate sale of the vehicle to this proud American freedom fighter.

“I always wanted a 69 Mach 1, even as a young kid”, said an ecstatic Morra, “and this is going to be a very early retirement gift to myself.”  His excitement was obvious as he drove his dream car away to its new home and loving family.  Unfortunately, this military family will soon have their lives interrupted, as Joseph will, once again, embark on an eighteen-month Middle East combat zone assignment as a Black Hawk aviation helicopter platoon leader.  “Our thoughts and prayers will be with Joseph as he serves our country in the Middle East war zone”, said Dale Nunnery, founder and president of Classic Cars Southeast,  “because of soldiers like him, we have the freedom to enjoy our classic cars and we applaud his efforts to keep that freedom alive and well.”   

Spanish TV is a Nashville based production company that produces programming designed for the local Middle Tennessee Hispanic community.  It is aired on Telemundo, an American television network based in Hialeah, Florida.  Telemundo was launched in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1954 and is now the second largest Spanish Language content producer in the world.  It was purchased in 2002 by Telemundo Communications Group.  Many programs air with closed captions in both Spanish and English.  The network reaches 93 percent of US Hispanic households in 142 markets via over-the-air, cable and satellite TV.  Sheyla Paz Hicks is a multi-lingual Nashville based reporter and host for the network’s local Spanish TV programming.  She is from Cuba and is working with Classic Cars Southeast on a production concerning the world wide American classic car phenomenon, especially the popularity of the historical automobiles that are still being used in her home country.  There are literally thousands of these vintage vehicles throughout the island and many are being used in the business community.

Additional information about Spanish TV Nashville can be found at spanishtv.com

Classic Cars Southeast buys, sells and restores investment quality classic and muscle cars.  Requests for the dealership’s vehicles are received from around the globe and shipments have already been exported to numerous international destinations, such as Denmark, Australia, Canada and Sweden.  Their enormous “museum-quality” showroom is a “world-class” facility for the most discerning car enthusiast and has been the setting for numerous photos, videos and Television productions.  The dealership is excited to be working with Spanish TV and learning more about the great appreciation Cuba has for the American classics.      

Spanish TV host and reporter, Sheyla Paz Hicks, interviews and congratulates Army Warrant Officer,   Joseph Morra, on his recent purchase of a completely restored 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 from Classic Cars Southeast.  Ms. Paz Hicks met Morra during one of her Spanish TV productions which happened to be at the Lebanon, Tennessee based classic car dealership.   Morra will soon be deployed for a second tour of duty in the Middle East and he wanted to ensure fulfillment of his childhood dream, to own a Mach 1, prior to his return to the war zone.