COL Kurt McMillen presents a Certificate of Appreciation and MOAA Challenge Coin to Fire Chief Karrer.
LT William Myers, CEC USN Former
The Catalina Mountain Chapter (CMC) of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) met 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 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 CMC meeting was held on Nov. 19 at the Grill at SaddleBrooke Ranch. The presenter was 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 served as the basis for his presentation, which followed General Truscott from his boyhood through the post WWI period, into his commands during the WWII, 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 phone at 520-825-0604.
The Catalina Mountains Chapter 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, visit our website at 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.