U.S. Army Airborne Sgt. Mike Henderson of Hartselle, second from right, received delivery on his restored 2005 G-6 Corvette at Color’s Precision Paint and Body Shop on Friday. Looking on, from left, are auto body technicians Kent King, Mike Denton, J.R. Galloway, Jason Treakle, Philip Gurley, owner, Johnny Smith and his father, Chris Henderson. | Clif Knight

U.S. Army Airborne Sgt. Mike Henderson of Hartselle had a good reason to hurry home Friday after completing his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

A shiny, black G-6 Corvette was waiting for him at Colors Precision Paint and Body Shop.

Henderson began overhauling the sports car before he left for his third tour of duty in the Middle East nine months ago. Four months ago, Henderson’s father, Mike Henderson, decided to complete the restoration with the help of Color’s technicians.

“It looks good,” Henderson said. “It meets all my expectations and I’m excited about getting it out on the road. “I plan to put Hartselle’s streets to good use while I’m in town.”

Henderson said he would drive the car back to Fort Bragg, N.C. at the end of the week.

“It took some time to get the car ready to go,” said Color’s owner Philip Gurley. “That’s because of delays in getting the parts we needed. Our goal was to have it ready for him when he got home from Afghanistan and we’re proud we were able to meet it.

“We wouldn’t have made it had it not been for Chris (Henderson), Mike’s father,” Gurley added. “He was our gofer and anytime we needed a push to get a part, he was there.”

Henderson last tour in the Middle East is his second in Afghanistan. He also served there in 2010-11 and served in Iraq in 2008-09.

He joined the Army after graduating from Hartselle High School and is now serving in his seventh year.