Story and photos by Cpl. Ned Johnson
LANDERS, Calif. — A ranch hand starts his morning at dawn, feeding the animals, bailing hay and maintaining ranch equipment.
For some Marines with the remain behind element of 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, their day was more like a ranch hand’s than a Marine’s.
The Marines painted barns, repaired fences, and fed the horses of White Rock Horse Rescue, April 16-19.
“I could never have done any of this stuff without the Marines,” said Isabel Megli, the founder and CEO of White Rock Horse Rescue. “The heavy lifting and physical work is more than I can do.”
WRHR is a nonprofit organization that rescues horses in the Southern California area. All ranch work is done by volunteers and Megli.
The Marines decided they could help.
“We had a civilian who needed help and she reached out to the chaplain,” said Staff Sgt. Anthony Coronado, a platoon sergeant with 1st Bn., 7th Marines “And within 72 hours she had Marines out here helping her out.”
Megli explained how Marines did just that. According to Megli, they built a new barn and painted an old one, helped deliver a foal, and repaired sagging awnings and leaning fences. Her eyes lit up as she exclaimed that two motor transport mechanics were able to repair one of her vehicles.
Hard work, sure, but the Marines don’t seem to mind.
“The Marines have been having a blast,” Coronado said. “This gets them out in the middle of nowhere where they can have fun, work hard, and provide a great service.”
The Home Depot donated a playground so the Marines can bring their children to the ranch. Megli said she hopes all of the Marines will bring out their families.
“It’s fantastic!” Megli said. “The Marines have done a great job and I hope to see them all back again.”