Minden Rotary Marines* Pat Garrahan, Dave Rich and guest speaker Marine Karl Koeppen look on as Marine Dick Schwabe cuts the cake with the traditional sword used by Marines for this occasion.
“The Rotary Club of Minden was honored to have Marine Karl Koeppen as guest speaker. Karl is the Deputy Chief of Operations for the City of South Lake Tahoe’s Fire Department Station #3. Prior to Karl’s talk and to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Marines and Veterans Day coming up on Nov. 11th, a slide show was presented outlining each branch of the U.S. Military, followed by a film made to honor the 250 th Birthday of the Marines. One outstanding take-away from the slide show was as follows: “The Army and the Navy are run like traditional military services. The Air Force is run like a corporation. But the Marine Corps is a cult.”
Karl grew up in a small community along the Hudson River, north of New York City, where he learned responsibilities and worked jobs that have helped shape his life. Beginning at the age of 12, a harsh lesson was learned when he was fired for not being on time to work at a local farm. His next employment opportunity at 16 was on a horse farm, where for the next three years he lived, worked and earned his high school diploma.
Thanks to a persistent Marine recruiting officer, and an uninspiring community college curriculum, plus the lure of the Desert Storm campaign, Karl decided to call that recruiter. Karl’s sign-up was for 6 years, but Desert Storm was over within 30 days. Undeterred, Karl went to boot-camp at Paris Island, not considered the ideal climate
for rigorous combat drilling. From there he went to small arms training in Quantico, VA. Being transferred to Miramar and El Toro California Air Base for two to three years, working with the Air-wing F18 fighter squadron was a welcome change from the east coast. From there Karl traveled overseas throughout Asia with the squadron. Upon his return state-side Miramar had become the Marine Corps Air Station. At Camp Pendleton, 40 miles north of Miramar, Karl, now a sergeant was hired to be Major General Charles Bolden’s driver. So, for a year and a half Karl traveled with the General all around California, Nevada and the southwest. To this day, Karl still keeps in touch with the General who had flown over 100 combat missions in Vietnam,
served on four space shuttle missions and was a NASA administrator.
One of the stops for the General’s speaking engagements had been at Lake Tahoe, which made an impression on Karl. In 1997 Karl settled in Tahoe and was hired by the City of South Lake Tahoe to operate heavy equipment in the public works department. Deciding to return to school to earn an associate's degree in Fire Science, Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration, his EMT and all that goes with firefighting and lifesaving was Karl’s next move. In 2002 he was offered a job as a firefighter and has worked his way up the ladder to becoming the second in command, the Deputy Chief of Operations at South Lake Tahoe’s Fire Department Station #3 located at 2101
Lake Tahoe Blvd. Over the past 23 years, Karl has been on and never late to some of the biggest fires in the Tahoe basin including the Caldor and Gondola fires. In fact, his engine was the first on the scene at the Angora fire.
On a personal note, Karl’s wife Amanda teaches at Douglas High School and together they have three children. Daughter Karlee is 25 and recently earned a master’s degree, Kade 22 is a grad of LTCC Fire Academy and aspires to be a full-time firefighter. Their 12-year-old, Kai, attends Carson Valley Middle school.
Fires in the Tahoe basin and beyond are still a danger. However, thanks to aggressive thinning and smart forest management the threat in certain areas has been mitigated. We are grateful for the work of our firemen and women who serve unselfishly and especially to those Veterans of all branches of the military as we approach November 11th – Veterans Day. OORAH
*Once a Marine, Always a Marine, goes the slogan.
