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 honorees this year include the Chairman and CEO of Bar-S Foods Company Mr. Timothy Day, NPR Photographer David Gilkey, San Diego Tribune Military Affairs Writer Gretel Kovach and writer William Broyles, Jr. The awards will be presented during a special ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps on April 21, 2012.

The award winners this year include:
 

The John A. Lejeune Recognition for Exemplary Leadership   2012 Recipient: Mr. Timothy T. Day, Chairman and CEO, Bar-S Foods This recognition was provided by Founder Patrick Brent in the form of a statuette of General Lejeune that is the same size and weight as an Oscar and a World War 1 Springfield 1903 Rifle. The criteria for this recognition is: "Demonstrated leadership in their chosen profession, 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 the United States Marine Corps."

The Colonel John H. Magruder Award   2012 Recipient: Master Sergeant Ramon Gallimore for his 6th Marine Corps District Recruiting Historic Exhibit. Download PDF (2.6MB) The Colonel John H. Magruder Award is named for the first director of the Marine Corps Museum. It is given to an individual or an organization for excellence in depicting Marine Corps history in exhibits or displays in a museum or similar setting.

The Brigadier General Edwin Simmons-Henry I. Shaw Award   2012 Recipient: Dr. David Ulbrich, who is now an Army historian at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He previously did a fellowship with the USMC History Division where he completed much of his research on his award winning biography of General Thomas Holcomb.   The Brigadier General Edwin Simmons-Henry I. Shaw Award is named for two of the pre-eminent Marine Corps historians who were the earliest officers of the Marine Corps Historical Foundation, predecessor of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. It is given for superior historical scholarship by a member of the Marine Corps History Division staff.

The Major Megan McClung Award   2012 Recipient: Ms. Gretel C. Kovach for her reporting with the San Diego Tribune in Sangin, Afghanistan, February-March 2011, with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Download PDF (7.8MB) 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 in the Al Anbar Province. The award is given for a distinguished example of reporting by an individual covering U.S. Marines abroad.

The General Oliver P. Smith Award   2012 Recipient: Ms. Gretel C. Kovach for her reporting with the San Diego Tribune on “The Long Walk Home: A Wounded Marine’s Recovery.” (An eight-day series, including 10 stories, about Sgt. Collin Raaz and his efforts to walk on prosthetic legs after he was wounded in Afghanistan.) Download PDF (9.7MB) The General Oliver P. Smith Award is named for the Commanding General of the First Marine Division in Korea who, through his steadfast leadership in the field, created the circumstances for future viability and growth of the Marine Corps. It is given for a distinguished example of local news reporting by an individual that illuminates the U.S. Marine Corps’ relationship with local communities.

The General Roy S. Geiger Award   2012 Recipient: Major Ryan Hough for “It’s MUG Time,” published in The Marine Corps Gazette, July 2011. Download PDF (10.5MB) 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. This award is given to the author of the best aviation article published during the 2011 calendar year.

The Colonel Robert D. Heinl, Jr. Award   2012 Recipient: Master Gunnery Sergeant R.R. Keene, USMC (Ret), for his article series “Because Marines Never Forget – Veterans Return to Saipan & Tinian” published in Leatherneck Magazine. Download PDF - Part I (2.2MB) Download PDF - Part II (1.2MB) The Colonel Robert D. 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 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.

The Sergeant Major Dan Daly Award   2012 Recipient: David Gilkey for his submission “Marines Fight on in Afghanistan.”   The Sergeant Major Dan Daly Award was established in memory of the legendary recipient of two Medals of Honor and given 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. Click on photos to view all 32 photographs in a slideshow

The Sergeant Major Bradley Kasal Award   2012 Recipient: Sergeant Mallory S. VanderSchans for her submission “General Humor.” The Sergeant Major Bradley Kasal Award is named for the Sergeant Major who received the Navy Cross for actions in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. A photo taken of the wounded Sergeant Major by Lucian Read became one of the iconic images of that battle. The award is given for a distinguished example of still photography by an individual, in black and white or color, which consists of a single photograph or sequence capturing the character of the individual Marine and the core values of the U.S. Marine Corps.

The James Webb Award   2012 Recipient: Nick Ragland and Joe Rouse for “Puller’s Runner”. 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 Robert A. Gannon Award   2012 Recipient: Robert A. Hall for his book Old Jarhead Poems. Download PDF (.9MB) The Robert A. Gannon Award, named after the noted poet, is given for a distinguished volume of original verse by a Marine poet dealing with Marine Corps life.

The General Wallace M. Greene, Jr. Award   2012 Recipient: Dr. David Ulbrich for his book “Preparing for Victory: Thomas Holcomb and the Making of the Modern Marine Corps, 1936-1943.” 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. This award is given to the author of distinguished non-fiction dealing with U.S. Marines or Marine Corps life.

The Sergeant William Genaust Award   2012 Recipient: Marshal Ivan Kander for “Survive. Recover. Live,” which documents the recovery process of his friend Rob Jones, who lost his legs in Afghanistan. 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 documentary and short subject (40 minutes or less) dealing creatively with U.S. Marine Corps heritage or Marine Corps life.

The Colonel John W. Thomason, Jr. Award   2012 Recipient: Lance Corporal Reagan Lodge for his submission “Belleau Wood.” 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. The award is given to an individual artist for a distinguished work depicting some aspect of Marine Corps Life.

The Colonel Joseph Alexander Award   2012 Recipient: Charles V. Jones for his submission, “War Shots: From Tarawa to Iwo Jima, Norm Hatch’s Marine Camera Crusade.” The Colonel Joseph Alexander Award is given for a distinguished work of biographical or autobiographical literature about a Marine.

The Colonel Julia E. Hamblet Award   2012 Recipient: Lieutenant General Carol Mutter USMC (Ret), not selected based on her personal Marine Corps history or her unique place in American history, but rather her actions to preserve the history of women who have earned and have proudly carried the title of MARINE.   The Colonel Julia E. Hamblet Award is named for the longest serving Director of Women Marines. The 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 Drama Award   2012 Recipient: William Broyles, Jr. is a former Marine infantry lieutenant who served in Vietnam. He wrote the book “Brother in Arms,” that is an account of his return to Vietnam as a journalist/civilian 15 years after leading a platoon there as a young Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He wrote the screenplays for “Flags of Our Fathers,” “Jarhead,” “Apollo 13,” “Castaway” and “Khe Sahn,” as well as a screenplay adaptation of the WWII novel “Earth, Wings and Fire.” He is the co-creator of “China Beach,” and has written many episodes for the series. He is the founding editor of “Texas Monthly” and former editor of “Newsweek.” He holds writing credits on several other motion pictures including Entrapment, Planet of the Apes, Unfaithful and The Polar Express. The Drama Award is given for a distinguished play or screenplay by a playwright or screenwriter, dealing with U.S. Marine Corps heritage or Marine Corps life.