The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Annual Awards Program, recognizing outstanding individuals whose work preserves, promotes, and shares the history, traditions, and legacy of the United States Marine Corps.
Since 1981, the Foundation’s Annual Awards Program has honored Marines and civilians whose creative achievements help tell the Marine Corps story through journalism, literature, photography, film, scholarship, and the arts. Each year, hundreds of submissions are reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges who select works that best capture the courage, sacrifice, and enduring values of Marines.
The 2026 award recipients represent excellence in storytelling and historical preservation, ensuring the legacy of the Marine Corps continues to inspire future generations.
Stephen R. Platt for "The Raider"
The Colonel Joseph Alexander Award recognizes a distinguished work of biographical or autobiographical literature about a Marine and is given in memory of Colonel Joe Alexander, historian, author, and longtime friend of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
1stSgt Chase McGrorty-Hunter, USMC for "A Small Piece of Cloth: The History of the Marine Corps' Shoulder Sleeve Insignia"
The Master Sergeant Tom Bartlett Award, named for the late Managing Editor of Leatherneck magazine and leading Marine photojournalist, was previously given for the year’s best still photography related to a Marine Corps subject. The award is now given to the author, who must be an active duty Enlisted Marine, of the best article pertinent to Marine Corps history published in a newspaper, magazine, journal or other periodical.
The Corporal Jan Bender Award
Drew F. Lawrence for "On the Ice with Marines Preparing for War in the Arctic"
Named in honor of Corporal Jan Bender, a combat correspondent who was instrumental in the early digital coverage of Marine operations in Iraq, this award recognizes excellence in digital storytelling related to Marine Corps history, heritage, traditions, and daily life.
The award celebrates both military and civilian creators who use platforms such as podcasts, video series, blogs, and digital publications to produce compelling, creative, and impactful narratives that preserve and promote the Marine Corps story.
Joshua Crone for "A Marine Walks Up to the Pearly Gates"
The Lieutenant William Broyles Award is named for the Vietnam veteran and screenwriter of Flags of Our Fathers, Jarhead, Apollo 13, Castaway and Khe Sanh. It is given to a playwright or screenwriter for a dramatic work dealing with U.S. Marine Corps heritage or Marine Corps life.
The Sergeant Major Dan Daly Award
Sgt Danny Gonzalez, USMC for "31st MEU Blackhearts"
The Sergeant Major Dan Daly Award was established in memory of the legendary recipient of two Medals of Honor. Prior to 2011, the award was given for superior writing pertinent to Marine Corps history during the preceding year by an enlisted writer for a Marine Corps post or station periodical. Beginning in 2011, the award recognizes a distinguished example of still photography by an individual, in black and white or color, which consists of a collection of photographs capturing U.S. Marines or Marine Corps life.
Juan Manuel Perez for "Thirty Years Ago: Life and the First Gulf War"
The Robert A. Gannon Award named after the noted poet, is given for a volume of original verse by a Marine poet dealing with Marine Corps life.
The General Roy S. Geiger Award
Col Rod Andrew Jr., Ph.D, USMCR (Ret) for "“Flying Leathernecks”: The Public Debate over Close Air Support and the Future of the U.S. Marine Corps, 1945–1952"
The General Roy S. Geiger Award was established 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. The award is given to the author of the best article published during the preceding year in the field of Marine Corps aviation.
David C. Kniess Jr. for "The Siege at Khe Sanh"
The Sergeant William Genaust Award is named for the motion picture cameraman who filmed the 1945 flag raising on Mount Suribachi shortly before he was killed in action on Iwo Jima. It is given for a producer of a documentary and short subject (motion pictures with a running time of 40 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.
Col Rod Andrew Jr., Ph.D, USMCR (Ret) for "The Marines' Fight for Survival: War, Politics, and Institutional Crisis, 1945-1952"
Col Michael F. Morris, Ph.D., USMC (Ret) for "Corps Competency?: III Marine Amphibious Force Headquarters in Vietnam"
The General Wallace M. Greene, Jr. Award is 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 Heritage Foundation.
The Julia Hamblet Award
CWO5 Lisa Potts, USMC (Ret) for a lifetime of definitive contributions to preserving and presenting the history of Women Marines
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.
The Team at Lucky8 TV: Chelsea Yarnell (Director), Kim Woodard (Executive Producer), Greg Henry (Executive Producer), Darryl Frank (Executive Producer), Justin Falvey (Executive Producer), Sebastian Junger (Executive Producer), Isaac Holub (Executive Producer), George Kralovansky (Executive Producer), Katie Goldstein (Co-Executive Producer), Arielle Kilker (Co-Executive Producer) and Katherine LeBlond (Producer) for "MARINES"
The Major Norman Hatch Award, named for the pioneer combat camera team leader whose color motion picture footage at Tarawa and Iwo Jima, among many other accomplishments, brought the Marine Corps story vividly to the American people, is given for the best documentary (longer than 40 minutes) videotape dealing with historical or current Marine Corps subjects.
The Colonel Robert D. Heinl, Jr. Award
Major Robert Billard Jr., USMC for "The Atomic Crucible: Forging Tactics in the Shadow of the Bomb"
The Colonel Robert Debs Heinl, Jr. Award is given in memory of the distinguished Marine Corps officer, journalist, and historian. He was a founder of the Heritage Foundation and author of Soldiers of the Sea. The award is given to the author of the best article pertinent to Marine Corps history published in a newspaper, magazine, journal, or other periodical during the preceding year.
1stSgt Melissa Marnell, USMC for "Bangalore"
The Sergeant Major Bradley Kasal Award is named for the Marine awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions in the Battle for Fallujah and given for a distinguished example of a single still photograph by an individual which captures the character of the individual Marine or the core values of the U.S. Marine Corps.
The Colonel John H. Magruder III Award
James P. Gregory Jr. for "Tigers in the Pacific"
The Colonel John H. Magruder III Award is named for the first director of the Marine Corps Museum. It is given to 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.
Drew F. Lawrence for " Supply or Die: Sustaining Marines in the High North so They Can Fight and Win a Future War"
The Major Megan McClung Award is named for the first female Marine Corps officer killed in combat in the Iraq War where she was serving as a public affairs officer and is given for a distinguished example of reporting by an individual covering United States Marines abroad.
Colonel Seth W.B. Folsom, USMC (Ret) for "Nothing Here Worth Dying For: Task Force Lion in Iraq"
Brennan Morton for "Valhalla Boys: Marine Recon Sniper in Iraq"
The Eugene Sledge Award is presented for the best memoir published between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2025. It is named for the Marine Corporal, university professor and author of With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa.
The Colonel John W. Thomason, Jr. Award
Major Stephen Winslow, USMC (Ret) for "Through the Front Door (Fallujah, Iraq)"
The Colonel John W. Thomason Jr. Award was established in memory of this decorated combat officer, known for his artwork illustrating Marines in World War I, China, and Latin America. It is given for excellence in the fine or applied arts, including photography, in depicting the historic or contemporary Marine Corps. Submissions should consist of a single work of art or multiple works that are clearly unified by a common theme or subject matter.
John F. Andrews for "Our Desperate Hour - Novels of the Great War"
The James Webb Award is named for the Senator, author and Navy Cross recipient. It is given for distinguished fiction dealing with U.S. Marines or Marine Corps life.
The 2026 Annual Awards will be formally presented during a special ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, where award recipients will be recognized alongside Marine Corps leaders, historians, artists and supporters of Marine Corps history.
Each honoree receives a gold medallion, a commemorative brick installed along the pathways of Semper Fidelis Memorial Park, and, in applicable categories, a cash prize recognizing their contribution to preserving Marine Corps heritage.
The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation congratulates the 2026 award recipients and thanks all who submitted entries to this year’s program for their dedication to preserving the story of the Marine Corps.