2019 Award Winners

Each year, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation presents a series of awards to both Marines and civilian community members, recognizing their exemplary work in advancing and preserving Marine Corps history. The 2019 awards will be presented during a special ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in April 2019.

The honorees and award winners this year include:

The Lejeune Recognition

The Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune Recognition for Exemplary Leadership recognizes an individual who has demonstrated leadership in their chosen profession, or appointed or elected position that is clearly exemplary and worthy of emulation.The recipient must epitomize the core values of honor, courage, and commitment, and practice the leadership traits and principles ascribed to by General Lejeune and the United States Marine Corps.

2019 Recipient:
General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. USMC
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Heritage Award

The Heritage Award for recognition of those who have provided unique and significant service to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation in the fulfillment of its mission.

2019 Recipient:
Ms. Lin Ezell
Former Director, National Museum of the Marine Corps

Special Recognition Award

The Special Recognition Award for extraordinary contributions to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation over an extended period of time.

2019 Recipient:
Mr. John M. Dowd
Counsel, Board of Directors
​Marine Corps Heritage Foundation

The Colonel Joseph Alexander Award

For a distinguished work of biographical or autobiographical literature about a Marine.

2019 Recipient:
Michael Archer
For his book:  The Gunpowder Prince: How Marine Corps Captain Mirza Munir Baig Saved Khe Sanh about how a Pakistani immigrant, rose through Marine Corps enlisted and officer ranks, and save thousands of American lives during the 1968 siege of Khe Sanh.

The Master Sergeant Tom Bartlett Award

For superior writing pertinent to Marine Corps history during the preceding year by an enlisted writer in an medium.

2019 Recipient:
Cpl Kyle Daly USMC
For his article "The Legacy of Holland M. Smith," a profile piece published in Leatherneck magazine on legendary General Holland M. Smith whose leadership and vision of amphibious warfare greatly contributed to America's success in the Pacific during World War II.

The Lieutenant William Broyles Award

For a distinguished play or screenplay by a playwright or screenwriter, dealing with U.S. Marine Corps heritage or Marine Corps life.

2019 Recipient:
Robert M. Adams
For his play Place of Angels which chronicles Bob's year in Vietnam from February 1968 to February 1969 serving as a combat hospital Corpsman with Gulf Company, 2nd Battalion, First Marines in Northern I Corps.

The Sergeant Major Dan Daly Award

For a distinguished example of still photography by an individual, consisting of a collection of black and white or color photographs capturing U.S. Marines or Marine Corps life.

2019 Recipient:
Paul Rodriguez
For his series of photos Proud to Serve, published in the Orange County Regiser of active duty Marines from Marine Base Camp Pendleton volunteering their "leave time" to work as Devil Pup instructors teaching children ages 14-17 self-discipline, teamwork, respect for authority and pride in flag and country.

The Robert A. Gannon Award

For a distinguished volume of original verse by a Marine poet dealing with Marine Corps life.

2019 Recipient:
Justin T. Eggen
For his submission The Art of Warrior Poetry, a poetry collection that takes the read through adolescence, war, solitude and new beginnings.  

The General Roy S. Geiger Award

Sponsored by Colonel G. F. Robert Hanke, USMCR, in memory of his father, Wing Commander Ralph Hanke, Royal Air Force. It is named for General Geiger, the fifth designated naval aviator in Marine Corps history, who commanded both air and ground units during World War II. This award is given to the author of the best article in the field of Marine Corps Aviation published during the preceding year.

2019 Recipient:
Geoff Roecker
For his blog post 2d Lt Elwood R. Bailey, VMF-223 on MissingMarines.com. Bailey was listed as missing during the Japanese raid on Henderson Field Guadalcanal.

The Sergeant William Genaust Award

For a producer of a documentary and short subject (motion pictures with a running time of 15 minutes or less, including all credits) dealing creatively with U.S. Marine Corps heritage or Marine Corps life. An eligible documentary film is defined as a non-fiction motion picture photographed in actual occurrence. The subject may also employ stock footage, stills, interviews, animation or other techniques, with emphasis on fact, not on fiction.

2019 Recipient:
SSgt Daniel D. Kujanpaa USMC
For his documentary MAWTS-1 40th Anniversary on the founding of Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, created to address a lack of trained pilots and poor communication between air and ground forces during the Vietnam War. 

The General Wallace M. Greene, Jr. Award

Named for the 23rd Commandant of the Marine Corps, who during his distinguished Marine Corps career gave stature to the historical program, as we know it today. He is a founding member of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. This award is given for distinguished non-fiction dealing with U.S. Marines or Marine Corps life.

2019 Recipient:
Hampton Sides
For his book On Desperate Ground: The Marines at the Reservoir, the Korean War's Greatest Battle, a chronicle of the extraordinary feats of heroism by Marines called on to do the impossible. 

The Colonel Julia E. Hamblet Award

Named for the longest serving Director of Women Marines. This award is funded by a bequest from the estate of Lotus Mort and judged by the Women Marines Association. It is given to the individual or team who has done the most to further the recognition of the history of women who have earned the title Marine.

2019 Recipient:
Jim Moran
For his book They are Marines - The USMCWR in the Second World War, a description of uniforms, history and traditions of 23,000 Women Reservists who served during WWII. 

The Major Norman Hatch Award

For a documentary feature (motion pictures with a running time of more than 40 minutes) dealing creatively with U.S. Marine Corps heritage or Marine Corps life. An eligible documentary film is defined as a non-fiction motion picture photographed in actual occurrence. The subject may also employ stock footage, stills, interviews, animation or other techniques, with emphasis on fact, not on fiction.

2019 Recipient:
Blink Films UK (Producers Justine Kershaw and Georgia Braham)
For their submission “We'll Meet Again: Korean War Brothers in Arms," one segment of a documentary series broadcast on PBS and hosted by journalist Ann Curry. In this episode, Marine Jim Owens searches for the two heroic lieutenants who bravely led him in battle in Korea while Navy Corpsman Tony looks for his best friend and confidante aboard the hospital ship USS Consolation.

The Colonel Robert D. Heinl, Jr. Award

Given in memory of the distinguished Marine Corps officer, journalist, and historian. He was a founder of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and author of Soldiers of the Sea. The award is for a distinguished example of feature writing by an individual dealing with U.S. Marine Corps history or Marine Corps life, giving prime consideration for high literary quality and originality.

2019 Recipient:
Kyle Watts
For a series of two articles "The Flying Ladder," detailing the combat debut of a cable ladder device in Vietnam and the heroic effort to successfully extract eight members of a Marine Force Recon team and "The Flying Ladder: A Reunion" which explores how Kyle connected three veterans of that mission 49 years later.

Click here to view "The Flying Ladder" and here to view "The Flying Ladder: A Reunion."

The Sergeant Major Bradley Kasal Award

For a distinguished example of still photography by an individual, in black and white or color, which consists of a single photograph capturing the character of the individual Marine and the core values of the U.S. Marine Corps.

2019 Recipient:
Cpl Santino D. Martinez USMC
For his photograph Bringin' the Heat which showcases the explosive power of U.S. Marines in the 2nd Marine Division while they were conducting demolitions training in Jordan while deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. 

The Colonel John Magruder, III Award

For an individual or an organization that makes available to the public an exhibit pertaining to Marine Corps history. The exhibit portrays panels, text, art and/or artifacts at a traveling or fixed location.

2019 Recipient:
Stars and Stripes
For their exhibit “The Marines and Tet: The Battle That Changed the Vietnam War," located in the Newseum in Washington, D.C. 

The Major Megan McClung Award

The Major Megan McClung Award is given for distinguished example of reporting by an individual covering U.S. Marines abroad.

2019 Recipient:
Hope Hodge Seck
For her reports of "Marine Victories in Afghanistan, Iraq" during General Robert Neller's annual Christmas trip to visit deployed Marines around the globe. 

The Brigadier General Edwin Simmons – Henry I. Shaw Award

For superior historical scholarship by a public historian. Presented by the USMC History Division.

2019 Recipient:
Dr. Christopher J. Lamb
For his book The Mayaguez Crisis, Mission Command, and Civil-Military Relations which demonstrates how three decades of scholarship mischaracterized U.S. motives and why allegations of civil micromanagement are wrong. 

The General Oliver P. Smith Award

For a distinguished example of local news reporting by an individual that illuminates the U.S. Marine Corps' relationship with local communities.

2019 Recipient:
James LaPorta
For his article "The Marine Vet Who Draws Presidents, Fallen Heroes - and Parkland's Kids," documented world-renowned artist and U.S. Marine Vietnam combat veteran Michael Reagan, who sends hand-drawn portraits of fallen Marines to their families. He has completed over 5,300 portraits. 

The Colonel John W. Thomason, Jr. Award

Is given to an individual for a distinguished work depicting some aspect of Marine Corps Life. Media may include sculptures, paintings, drawings and illustrations in color or black and white. Computer graphics are considered, but art used must be original work.

2019 Recipient:
Richard Johnson
For his illustrations Alligator Dagger & Trident Juncture 2018. Richard was tasked with creating art of the USMC deployments in Djibouti for Operation Alligator Dagger and in Norway for Operation Trident Juncture as part of NATO training. 

The James Webb Award

For distinguished fiction dealing with U.S. Marines or Marine Corps life.

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2019 Recipient:
Elliot Ackerman
For his novel Waiting for Eden, a piercingly insightful, deeply felt meditation on loyalty and betrayal, love and fear.

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