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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE OF MAJOR GENERAL RONALD HRANT MARKARIAN
______
HON. JIM COSTA
of california
in the house of representatives
Monday, October 28, 2019
Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to
the life of Major General Ronald Hrant Markarian, who passed away on
October 12, 2019. Major General Markarian valiantly served our country
for 46 years in the California Army National Guard and the Air Force.
Major General Markarian was born in Fresno, California on June 27,
1931 to Theodore and Rose Markarian. He graduated from Clovis High
School and was a member of the California Cadet Core. While in high
school, Major General Markarian joined the California National Guard.
He was in the Heavy Mortar Company of the 185th Infantry Regiment for
three years. He then attended California State University, Fresno.
During that time, he enrolled in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training
Corps. After graduation, Major General Markarian joined the United
States Air Force. His assignments included duties such as B-47 and B-52
strategic bombers. In 1964 he completed his master's degree in public
administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Major General Markarian was also Chief of Air Reconnaissance
Operations in Southeast Asia. He flew 116 Reconnaissance missions
during that time. One of his duty stations was in Hawaii and he served
as the Pacific Air Forces Director of Plans and Programs. He was
Commander of the 548th Reconnaissance Technical Group. Major General
Markarian also worked for six years at the Pentagon and was the Chief
of Air Reconnaissance Systems and Director of the United States Air
Force Intelligence Reserve Forces.
After 30 years of military service, Major General Markarian retired
in August 1980 as a Full Bird Colonel in the Air Force. His need to
serve did not end at his retirement. In 1987, Major General Markarian
was nominated by California Governor George Deukmejian to be appointed
by President Ronald Reagan as California State Director for the
Selective Service System. Later, Pete Wilson, Governor of California
then appointed him to be the California Commission for the
Commemoration of the Second World War. He was appointed Commanding
General of the California State Reserve and later promoted to Major
General in 1990. In 1994, he was appointed to the California Veterans
Board. Major General Markarian retired with 46 years of uniformed
military service in October of 1995 after he became a member of the
California State Military Reserve.
Major General Markarian's commitment to public service and our
country is truly remarkable and he was a key leader in the community in
many capacities even after his military years. He was a founding member
of the Central California Veterans Home Support Foundation (CCVHSF) and
assisted in acquiring the land for the California Veterans Home in
Fresno where he lived during the later years of his life. Major General
Markarian was the president of Central California Chapter of the
Association of the United States Army, American Red Cross and the
Military Intelligence Corps Association.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of
Major General Ronald Hrant Markarian. His service to our nation and
contributions to veterans in the Central Valley will not be forgotten.
____________________
