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Hoofin' for Heroes

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Noelle Caldwell
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  "Incoming!" Diane Dillon shouted, as a tow-truck hauling a three-horse trailer revved its engine over the hill driving through the Double J Ranch gates. 

Nearly 40 volunteers from Shaw Air Force Base and 15 volunteers from Vietnam Veterans of America stood inside the Double J Ranch campgrounds Dec. 7 in Whitmire, S.C. ready to help out and donate their time to 132 riders participating in Hoofin' For Heroes. 

Dillon, the event coordinator, helped organize Hoofin' For Heroes, which was a three-day benefit horseback ride that brought in $3,200 from riders fees and donations combined. The proceeds went toward the Wounded Warrior Project. 

"It's been awesome," Dillon said. "We've had so many volunteers and the Vietnam Veterans of America are a huge volunteer base out here with us. They know what they went through when they came back (from war), and they don't want the soldiers coming back this time to go through what they did." 

The Wounded Warrior Project is a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to assist men and women of the armed forces who have been severely injured during conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations around the world. 

"They're over there fighting for their country and their families are back here and they need emotional support; they need financial support and sometimes the services can't handle that big of a problem," Dillon said. "And that is what we all need to help." 

Dillon, an Army veteran who served in Bosnia, said she's always been patriotic and had a military family background. 

"It's everything for God and country and that's just the way it is. If I had never served, I'd still be here," she said. "This is the most wonderful feeling in the world. I have found my life's calling, I really have." 

Rider Tammy Bowden said she and her horse, Nikhia, came out to ride all the time, but especially wanted to participate in Hoofin' For Heroes since her younger brother is in the Marine Corps. 

"I think more people should (participate)--especially with all the young men that are coming back now with brain damage and other injuries. They need a lot of help," Bowden said. 

The owner of Double J Ranch, David Jarvis, said the Wounded Warriors Project was particularly close to him since he is a retiree. 

"I was actually in the 5th Special Forces Group ... so helping out the guys from the Gulf War means a lot to me," Jarvis said. 

"This is the first Wounded Warriors event out here; so hopefully, they will continue and each time it will get bigger and bigger," he said. 

"This is wonderful," Dillon said. "This is our first year, but it won't be our last."