Two local vets sell homemade BBQ sauce for Wounded Warriors

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Two local vets are selling homemade BBQ sauce to raise money for Wounded Warriors.

Danny Parkhill and Carl Johnson have been friends since 1987. The two fought in Desert Storm together but later the two vets lost touch.

Twelve years later Johnson found Parkhill mixing up sauces inside his restaurant. Johnson liked Parkhill’s BBQ sauce and immediately saw an opportunity.

Danny Parkhill, creator and partner of 2 Vets BBQ says, "We've got to market this sauce! You don’t understand what you got here, you don’t understand what’s going on in my mouth."

Johnson immediately knew Parkhill had something special. Parkhill continued to whip up small batches to sell inside his restaurant but it wasn’t enough.

"I was having real trouble just trying to keep up because everything I was putting on the self people would come in and buy it,” said Parkhill.

Johnson convinced Parkhill to market his sauces. From that moment on, the two long lost vets began selling 2 Vets BBQ. They started small and sold the sauce anyway they could.

Carl Johnson, partner of 2 Vets BBQ says, "I would sell it at the hotel where I was staying to the other guests, just out of the trunk of the car."

Eventually, Parkhill and Johnson turned towards Baesler’s Market for help. The local grocery store agreed to help out their local vets.

Casey Baesler, Assistant Manager of Baesler’s Market says, "We like to help anything local and especially like one of our customers like Carl. We like to help out as much as possible."

Parkhill and Johnson’s sauce is also helping others. Ten percent of the proceeds from 2 Vets BBQ goes towards the Wounded Warriors Project.

"The least we can do is give back some of our good fortune to them," said Johnson.

“If we can contribute to the Wounded Warrior project and make a difference in those guys’ lives then it's just a little better," said Parkhill.

Johnson and Parkhill say they are thrilled to share their passion for BBQ and their passion in giving back to their fallen brothers.

Johnson says they have already donated $500 towards the Wounded Warriors Project.

To purchase 2 Vets BBQ, head to Baesler’s Market in Terre Haute, Ind. or clink on this link.