Lt Col Mark Schwartz took us back in time to the era just before the space age began, the mid 1950s. The US and USSR were both working to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles. During this time period, the U.S. periodically flew high altitude aircraft near the Soviet Union border in order…
The Missing in America Project (MIAP) was created in 2007 to provide honor and respect to those who have served this country, by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes by interring the unclaimed remains of veterans. Mr. Ed Torres (US Army, Retired), the Southern AZ coordinator for the Missing in America Project,…
Ms. Kay Williams of the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Lt. Cmdr. (USN Ret) Steve Didio of the Oro Valley American Legion Post provided an update to the members of the Catalina Mountains Satellite Chapter of MOAA about the Southern Arizona Veterans’ and First Responders’ Living Memorial in Oro Valley at our monthly…
Col Rett Benedict (USAF Ret) Dr. Sandy McNabb of SaddleBrooke enlightened our members with “Syria: Why is the civil war so difficult to resolve?” Her background is excellent for this topic as she had an international career including university professor, Internet Technologist and Telecommunications executive and lived in England, Belgium, Germany and Egypt. She…
Rett Benedict Willy Halpert shared his experiences in the ‘Six Day War’ (June 5-10, 1967) and more with our Catalina Mountains MOAA Group. Willy was French born in 1933, a holocaust survivor and a member of a special Israeli Navy unit that was equivalent to the US Navy SEALS. He and his wife moved…
Rett Benedict L/C Doug May, USAF Ret., a SaddleBrooke resident and member of our group, shared his experiences working on the US Space Shuttle while in the Air Force and gave us some insight into potential North Korean missile trajectories that might be used to reach US territory. L/C May had two tours in…
Rett Benedict CW2 Gino Elsea (USA Ret.) a resident of SaddleBrooke, was the speaker for our meeting on Saturday, January 20 speaking on US policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He served 20 years in the U.S. Army with assignments in Conventional, Airborne, and Special Operations units and then 20 years in DoD Civil Service with…
Rett Benedict Colonel Martin Lenzini (USMC Retired), a resident of our neighbor SaddleBrooke Ranch was the speaker for our first meeting in the Catalina Room of the refurbished Mesquite Grill on Saturday, December 16. He showed the first indication of his future as a fighter pilot by climbing trees and riding the roof of the…
Colonel Rett Benedict (U.S.A.F. Retired) Ms. Bonnie Dudelston, the Administrator of the Arizona Veterans Cemetery at Marana was the speaker at our meeting on Saturday, November 18, 2017, and gave an excellent talk on the 32 acre facility that opened last year. The Marana Veterans Cemetery is one of the newest of the 105 state…
Colonel Rett Benedict (U.S.A.F. retired), President, Catalina Mountains Satellite Lieutenant Colonel (U.S. Army retired) Byron “Pat” Webb was our season opening speaker discussing important pharmaceutical topics based on his military and civilian experience. He served 20 years in the Army beginning as a pharmacy officer, having multiple field, hospital and headquarters assignments and ending his…