MOAA at Fort Sam Houston

Last February I provided a program in New Braunfels for the local DRT chapter’s annual scholarship fundraiser. There was a large crowd, and one of the men I met (a number of husbands attended the event) was Mac McDonald, a retired Air Force officer. Mac is a member of the Alamo Chapter MOAA, the Military Officers Association of America. Mac soon offered an invitation for me to present a program to the Alamo Chapter at one of their monthly luncheons, and we agreed upon Thursday, September 22. 

The John J. McCarthy Golf Clubhouse

Dining Hall

 MOAA originally was called the Retired Officers Association. Founded in 1929 to provide advice and assistance to military officers throughout the United States, the association headquartered in Los Angeles. In 1944 the association moved to the Washington, D.C. area. At that time association membership was 2,600. The name was changed to the Military Officers Association of America on January 1, 2003. Membership today is open to active duty, retired, and former commissioned officers and warrant officers, and currently there are more than 380,000 members. Members enjoy numerous benefits and discounts, education and career events, MOAA publications, and an annual meeting.

 

With Lt. Col. Rhonda Richter, a native Texan who has served for 20 years.  We are standing beside the Alamo Chapter of MOAA flag.

Presiding Officer, Maj. James B. Cunningham

On Wednesday, September 21, I delivered a luncheon program to a DAR chapter in Corsicana. Afterward I drove to New Braunfels, where I spent the night only half an hour from my Thursday destination. As the name indicates, the Alamo Chapter of MOAA is based in San Antonio. The monthly meetings are held at the Fort Sam Houston Golf Clubhouse. 

Introduced by Mac McDonald

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Demonstrating a replica battle flag of San Jacinto

I felt that a program about Sam Houston’s military campaign in the spring of 1836, including the spectacular Texan victory at San Jacinto, would be of interest to an audience of officers. I also enjoyed speaking about Sam Houston at the base which bears his name. The program was well received, and afterward I was asked a number of insightful questions. It was a deep privilege to meet with men and women who dedicated their careers to military service.