What started as a simple request from a little girl has become lasting summer memories for an entire Air Force base.
Jeffrey Cumbie, a former Army dental specialist; his wife, an active-duty veterinarian technician; and their family PCS’d to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri in 2021. Shortly after the move, his daughter noticed their new base didn’t have an ice cream truck. She asked if they could make one for her and her friends. Cumbie obliged.
“At first, we were going to do a cart, and when we realized the entire base would like one, we built an entire truck,” he said.
An ice cream truck may not seem like much, but it can be an anchor of familiarity for kids from base to base —especially as many military families PCS during the summer. At the very least, it brings a smile to all who see and hear it.
The bright purple truck, painted by Cumbie’s children, is hard to miss. With music blasting from the speakers, the ice cream truck and its nostalgic treats have quickly become a treasured summer memory for kids and adults.
“We love seeing everyone’s face when we see them outside. Our goal was just to get kids outside again and play like the good ol’ days. We love watching the kids light up when they hear the music. It’s a great feeling,” Cumbie said.
Starting an ice cream truck on a military base was no easy feat, but Cumbie happily went through the trouble and expenses involved in building, stocking and maintaining the truck.
“The hardest part was the electrical systems to power everything up. The entire process, from headlights to tail lights, took 18 days. Electrical took roughly five days alone,” he said.
Although he is no longer on active duty, Cumbie said his experiences gained in the military helped him complete the project.
“My time in field units definitely helped me figure out what I needed to do,” he says. “And if I couldn’t do it, I knew where and who to ask. [My wife] was a big part, too.”
All the hard work was worth it, Cumbie explained.
“Building and running the ice cream truck doesn’t seem like much. And in all aspects it’s not [difficult], anyone can do it. The problem is, no one does. It’s the small things in life that people can do to make everyday life just a little better. If you can make that difference, be the difference and make it happen.”
Cumbie’s goals have always included spreading positivity and helping others make memories.
“I grew up with an old saying from my father… You can’t go wrong doing the right thing. And if you can make someone’s day, just once a day, do it. You’ll live a happier life knowing you’ve made a difference, even if it’s a small one.”
Cumbie simply wants the purple ice cream truck to bring some joy and fun to Whiteman Air Force Base.
“I had a kid follow me on his bike for four streets just watching me. When I kept stopping, he said he just wanted to know where I lived. I told him I live on base too. He asked me if I had secret items in my house that I don’t give out. I then created a secret menu option. You have to ask for the secret menu to see it,” he joked.
But his customers better get their ‘secret menu’ orders in soon. That’s because Cumbie and his family are due to PCS soon.
“My goal is to sell [the ice cream truck] to someone on base or leave it here for the community. I can build another if the next base doesn’t have one. I learned a lot from it, and I believe I can do it again.”
Something his future neighbors would likely appreciate.
