Local Marines, Church Join to Help Cedar Fire Victim

By Jim Evans

Volunteers from the Ramona United Methodist Church and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar have been working in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity for several weeks to rebuild the home of Laman and Carmen Sadler.

The Sadlers lost their home on Mussey Grade (Fernbrook) in the Cedar Fire almost two years ago.

Initial clearing of the Sadler homesite took place almost 18 months ago, according to supervisor Joe Carlson, a 14-year veteran of Habitat for Humanity.

“There were the delays for insurance, permits and all the usual stuff associated with something of this magnitude before we could start construction,” Carlson said, “but we expect the house to be completed by sometime in September.”

Marines from the MHH-466 “Wolfpack” working with Ramona United Methodist Church and Habitat for Humanity. Photos by Darrel Kinney

The Sadlers have been living in a small trailer on site.

Among the volunteers working on the project is Sgt. Robert (Bobby) Skinner III, of the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466. He returned in February after 13 months in Iraq and expects to be deployed there again in early September. Skinner and his fellow Marines have devoted several weekends to helping rebuild the Sadler home.

Originally from Amarillo, Texas, Skinner had never even been on an airplane before he joined the Marine Corps in 1998.

“I was just a typical redneck with my bluejeans and pickup truck,” he said jokingly, “but apparently they thought I had what it takes to fly in helicopters.” As crew chief, he is responsible for maintenance and mechanics for the helicopter squadron and manning the machine guns.

Skinner, his wife Jennifer and daughter Katlyn, 2, are members of Ramona United Methodist Church and live in Ramona’s San Diego Country Estates. He is enjoying these last few weeks with his family before his return to Iraq — and helping others less fortunate at the same time.

And just how hot is it in Iraq?

“Imagine holding a hair dryer about a foot from your face turned up to the hottest setting,” he said. “It is typically about 100 to 118 degrees inside the helicopter, and we are each wearing about 75 pounds of gear.”

Building a house in Ramona should be a piece of cake, Bobby!