Didn't intend to cause confusion. To all appearances, the handle that you lift up on, the one that normally causes the truck tailgate to transition from the verticle, secured position to the horizontal, unlocked position - is entirely intact and completely functional. However, the latch mechanism, the part that is somehow mysteriously manipulated by the previously mentioned manipulations of the also previously mentioned handle, is apparently no longer capable of being manipulated by any manipulation of the handle.
There, is that better?
Much! So here's the hot ticket, anything can be manipulated with a big F-ing Hammer!