COL Kurt McMillen presents a Certificate of Appreciation and MOAA Challenge Coin to Fire Chief Karrer. (Photo by G. William Myers)
LT William Myers, CEC USN Former
The Catalina Mountain Chapter (CMC) of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) held its most recent meeting on Oct. 15 at SaddleBrooke Ranch. The meeting began with a business session presided over by COL Kurt McMillen, first vice president, during which members were updated on the chapter’s current and upcoming activities.
The day’s speaker was Fire Chief Randy Karrer of the Golder Ranch Fire District. Chief Karrer provided a comprehensive overview of the services the organization has provided to the communities included in the Golder Ranch Fire District over the last 45 years.
He also talked about the cooperation between the Robson Companies and the fire district to convert a model home at SaddleBrooke Ranch into a temporary fire station so the Insurance Services Office (ISO) would give the community a high enough fire protection rating so that insurance companies would be willing to offer fire insurance policies to SaddleBrooke Ranch homeowners.
Fire Chief Karrer also showed a rendering of the new fire station that is planned near the entrance to SaddleBrooke Ranch, which will replace the temporary fire station. When construction is completed in 2023, this fire station will not only serve SaddleBrooke Ranch, but also the surrounding area, including any requested support to the nearby Oracle Fire District.
The next regular CMSC meeting will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Grill at SaddleBrooke Ranch. Please note the beginning time for this meeting will be at noon instead of the normal 11:30 a.m. starting time.
The presenter will be Harvey Ferguson who served as an infantry soldier with the U.S. Army’s Third Infantry Division in Germany during the cold war period. The Third Infantry Division was one of the major deterrents against any thoughts of aggression by the USSR. Using his G.I. Bill benefits, Harvey obtained his bachelor’s degree and began his 33-year career with the Seattle Police Department.
In 2015, Harvey’s biography of General Lucian Truscott, The Last Cavalryman, was published. This work will serve as the basis for his presentation, which will follow General Truscott from his boyhood through the post-World War I period, into his commands during World War II, and then into the Central Intelligence Agency.
If you are interested in joining our organization, please contact Membership Chair LTJG David Bull by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 520-825-0604.
The Catalina Mountains Chapter of MOAA, Inc., is a nonprofit veteran’s organization covering the areas of Catalina, Oracle, parts of Oro Valley and Marana, SaddleBrooke, SaddleBrooke Ranch, and Sun City. For additional information, please visit our website catalinamountainsmoaa.org.
The Military Officers Association of America is a nonprofit veteran’s organization dedicated to maintaining a strong national defense and preserving the earned entitlements of members of the uniformed services and their families.