By Andrea McBride
News Editor
KINGSTON —Due to the generosity of Kingston Auto, Darren Robinson will have a big surprise waiting for him when he returns from basic military training later this month.
Robinson
Nick Osentoski, owner of Kingston Auto, has offered to fix up a 1989 Pontiac Firebird for free, and it will be waiting for Darren Robinson when he comes home early in the morning on Aug. 29.
“I’ve just always been willing to give back and help out,” said Osentoski, who will make a number of fixes to the car such as brakes and tires.
The Firebird belongs to Nathan Robinson, Darren’s father, who hopes to also pass the car on to his other children, Calvin Robinson, 15 and Hayleigh Robinson, 7.
Nathan Robinson and Osentoski are part of Kingston Fire Department, and Nathan Robinson said he is appreciative of his coworker’s generosity.
“You don’t hear about that nowadays,” Nathan Robinson said. “Most people would rather make a penny on you.”
Prior to leaving for basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Darren Robinson, 17, ran through drills with the fire department to help him get his feet wet.
His father also encouraged him to wear a fire mask, which seemed to take away his apprehension of the gas chamber exercise at boot camp.
“He said he walked out of the gas chamber down there and said he started laughing because it really wasn’t that hard,” Nathan Robinson said.
Darren Robinson graduates from basic training Aug. 28 and will begin his senior year at Kingston High School shortly after his return. He will take basic college courses through a dual enrollment program. After graduation, he will go back to Fort Leonard Wood to attend a 10-week AIT school for military law and policing.
“He’s definitely dedicated,” Nathan Robinson said. “For being that young age (of) 17, he’s already got his head on his shoulders.”
The training is normally completed in a 20-week stretch after high school graduation, but Darren Robinson’s training was split in half due to having one more year of school to complete. He won’t receive his unit assignment until next summer, but will do monthly conditioning in Bay City during his senior year.
His ultimate goal is to become a state police officer and live in California.