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SACRAMENTO Seven Cal Fire firefighters received the prestigious State of Cal- ifornia Governor's Medal of ValorawardTuesdayforacts of heroism extending above and beyond the normal call of duty, including Captain Specialist Doug Mackey, a resident of Red Bluff. The recipients were part of 15 state employees who were honored for their ex- traordinary acts of brav- ery and heroism in order to save the life of another. "Our firefighters put their lives on the line ev- ery day," said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. "But these individuals had to make decisions to act quickly, without regard to their own safety, which ul- timately cost one of them his life." Governor Brown's Cab- inet Secretary Keely Bo- sler presented the Medal of Valor, which is the high- est honor that California bestows on its public ser- vants. Mackey serves on the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit. Around 10:30 a.m. Dec. 21, 2014 Mackey was on rou- tine patrol in Auburn when he heard a call from the Placer County Sheriff's of- fice requesting additional assistance as they had just received a report of gunfire in a residential neighbor- hood. Mackey responded to the call and learned that a lone gunman was holed up inside his house, shoot- ing at officers and neigh- boring homes. The Placer County Sher- iff's Special Enforcement Team arrived on the scene and noticed the suspect's garage was next to the roof of a neighboring house. A team member climbed onto the neighbor's roof, attempting to release tear gas into the roof vents of the suspect's house. The suspect responded by set- ting his garage on fire and the neighboring home started to burn, trapping the deputy on the roof. With little time to spare, and in the line of fire, Mackey and an Auburn po- lice officer ran out into the open carrying a ladder and rescued the deputy from the burning roof. Fortunately, no one was injured. After the rescue, Mackey and the police of- ficer checked the other homes in the neighborhood for residents. They found an elderly couple in one of the homes and, while pro- viding cover, helped them escape out the back of their house. With no regard for his own safety during a very dangerous active shooter situation, Mackey's heroic acts ultimately saved the lives of three people. CAL FIRE Doug Mackey receives Medal of Valor CONTRIBUTED Cal Fire Capt. Specialist Doug Mackay, right, poses with Cabinet Secretary Keely Bosler and Cal Fire Director. Advocacy American Legion, Las- sen Post 0167 Red Bluff, 528-1026 American Legion, Rais- ner Post 45 Corning, 518-3152 Am Vets, Post 2002 Corning, 526-2883 VFW Los Molinos, 384-1301 Red Bluff, 528-1026 Corning Post 4218 Dis- trict 15 Auxiliary 4218, District 15 824-5957 DAV 529-4579 Marine Corps League, Detachment 1140 (888) MCL-1140 Military Family Sup- port Group Veteran's resources By John Minton This will be my final posting in Veterans Cor- ner. Chip and the Red Bluff Daily News have been great in covering veterans' issues over the past few years. In 1998 I was invited to meet with some cops at the Red Bluff Police Activi- ties League — now Tehama County PAL — to look into starting a new activity, the PAL Martial Arts Program. It became the first anti-bul- lying program in Tehama County. As my time evolved here in Tehama County I got in- volved with my fellow vet- erans and several Veterans Services Organizations be- ginning in 2002 with the Marine Corps League, De- tachment 1140, Tehama and Red Bluff. Then Am Vets Post 2002 followed by American Legion Posts 167 and 45. In 1974, I joined the American Legion, Harry S. Truman Post # 2, Frank- furt, West Germany. Veterans have given and continue to give today to their respective communi- ties with help from other dedicated volunteers. Not enough of them. And I felt it was too important and too meaningful not to somehow be involved at least on some level. For a few months I filled in as the Interim Vet- erans Services Officer — a demanding and rewarding position. Until the other day I have served as the Presi- dent of the Tehama County Veterans Collaborative go- ing on three years. A posi- tion I accepted with a lot of support. Whenever I've been in- vited to and have been en- gaged in things that I feel are important and mean- ingful to our American val- ues and traditions I don't know how to go half way. As I grew into adulthood, first on active duty, then as a veteran, giving it my all became who I've become. It became an addiction. I've given enough to know now that it became too much. A few times over the past three or four years it was said that everything seemed to be the "John Minton Show." Yes, when someone asks me to step up and get involved I have done just that. And then some. Prob- ably too much, too many times. Obsession became addiction. But I also had an opportunity to meet a few good men and women. De- spite it all it's been an honor to serve again. I realize fully how this may sound, possibly com- ing across bitter or upset. Maybe a little. But please note that if not for the vet- erans in each organization in Tehama County no one could even begin to under- stand veterans at all. We are a proud lot. Individually and together. Proud Amer- icans who have served one flag. We care so much about how we feel things should be that we sometimes ap- pear to be overbearing or squabbling. It's a strength not a weakness. It's not easy, it's difficult. It is com- munication. We veter- ans wouldn't have it any other way but we do work through things most of the time. It helps us iron out our battle plans for our fel- low veterans and their fam- ilies. They matter to all of us. Through and through we care about each other more than we can some- times show it. But the car- ing is there. I don't regret being in- volved even at greater than 100%. But now that I am preparing for my final cur- tain call as an active vet- eran I hope that those who disagree with things make it their show. They have earned this privilege. I won't badger them because if they truly jump into the arena and begin to play ball they deserve nothing except the knowledge that they are now the doers, a lonely but rewarding spot in the arena. And I believe they will jump into the arena and fight a good fight — for each other because they are veterans. They will be playing the game from inside the arena where many wish to be but lack the will and courage to engage. Some, not enough, already do just that from each of these organizations. But they will also deserve the respect and compassion it takes to have the passion to do what is necessary to accomplish a mission for their fellow veterans and family members. Just either get out of their way or join the team. Be there for them. Come out of the shadows and play on the same team, not against the same team. There are some really de- serving veterans and oth- ers out there not yet in the arena. Once they engage they'll most likely get as ad- dicted to the mission as too few have. It's a good addic- tion. I will stay involved with the youth in PAL until I can't do that any longer. It's where I will be when I leave this world. But 2016 will bring the final curtain call with nearly all veterans' or- ganizations. My hope and wish, nearly from the begin- ning, had been to get kids and veterans more involved with each other. Tehama County — it's a great place to live and raise children and grandchil- dren. It's a place to learn and grow as an American — even and especially with many opposing views on veterans and their services organizations. Everything is great at home. I just don't seem to see enough of it these days. And when I'm there I seem not to be there. So, although I will stay connected with a few veter- ans where I currently have membership, by the end of 2016 PAL will be the only act I'll be actively engaged in outside of family. I feel good that I was in- volved as a veteran. VeteranJohnMintonserved from 1973 to 1984. His email is JarusHeadus5@gmail. com. VETERANS CORNER TheOfficeofAccess&Eq- uity will be screening the documentary "The Mask You Live In" at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 25 and 2 p.m. Friday, April 29, in the Community Room 7206A on the TehamaCampus this month. "The Mask You Live In" is an award winning docu- mentary following the lives of boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiat- ing America's narrow def- inition of masculinity. The film is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Office of Access & Equity at 242-7618 or write to equity@shastacollege. edu. SHASTA COLLEGE 'The Mask You Live In' screens April 25 Final curtain call for column 349 Pine Street P.O. Box 1009 Red Bluff, California, 96080 TEL (530) 527-7500 LawOfficeof CHERYLA.FORBES Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts Probate and Trust Administration 349 Pine Street P.O. Box 1009 Red Bluff, California, 96080 TEL (530) 527-7500 Cheryl@AttorneyCherylForbes.com Estate Planning For Future Generations Thankyoutoallofourwonderfulclients forvotingusBestAttorney. VOTED2016 BEST ATTORNEY | LIFESTYLES | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2016 6 A