Comments for USMCCCA http://www.usmccca.org An organization comprised of active duty, reserve, retired and former Marines who served as Combat Correspondents on active duty or worked as a civilian in journalism, lithography, photography, broadcasting, graphic arts, advertising and public relations. Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:50:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Brofer heads to school soon by Jack Paxton http://www.usmccca.org/archives/6121/comment-page-1#comment-492 Jack Paxton Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:50:25 +0000 http://www.usmccca.org/?p=6121#comment-492 Jennifer excelled as an enlisted Marine - just check the last few years of Merit Award honors. She first received a complimentary membership in the Association years ago and, since then, has kept her membership active whether she won an award or not. She was nominated for next year's board but elected not to run because of her upcoming college education. She cares about this Association and is our future. Congrats and BZ Jennifer. Jennifer excelled as an enlisted Marine – just check the last few years of Merit Award honors. She first received a complimentary membership in the Association years ago and, since then, has kept her membership active whether she won an award or not. She was nominated for next year’s board but elected not to run because of her upcoming college education. She cares about this Association and is our future. Congrats and BZ Jennifer.

]]> Comment on Executive Director visits DINFOS by Jack Paxton http://www.usmccca.org/archives/5893/comment-page-1#comment-481 Jack Paxton Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:22:54 +0000 http://www.usmccca.org/?p=5893#comment-481 The above story of my visit to DINFOS was submitted by Past President Keith Oliver and he might be just a bit prejudiced. Suffice it to say I was honored to have been invited to speak to the graduating class and hope I can do it again some day. Since I became ExDir in 2005 I have "stood" in absolute awe of today's CCs from their dedication, intelligence, appearance, their zeal and, especially the gear they have to work with. As I told these grads, I was definitely born 62 years too soon! DINFOS is blessed with great instructors, many who are CC members (or should be). New Commandant, Col. Jeremy Martin, USA is a perfect fit at DINFOS. He is definitely a friend of the Corps and was effusive in his praise for the performance of duties by Maj. Beatrice Yarrish and Capt. Clark Carpenter as they recently changed jobs at the School House. The above story of my visit to DINFOS was submitted by Past President Keith Oliver and he might be just a bit prejudiced. Suffice it to say I was honored to have been invited to speak to the graduating class and hope I can do it again some day. Since I became ExDir in 2005 I have “stood” in absolute awe of today’s CCs from their dedication, intelligence, appearance, their zeal and, especially the gear they have to work with. As I told these grads, I was definitely born 62 years too soon! DINFOS is blessed with great instructors, many who are CC members (or should be). New Commandant, Col. Jeremy Martin, USA is a perfect fit at DINFOS. He is definitely a friend of the Corps and was effusive in his praise for the performance of duties by Maj. Beatrice Yarrish and Capt. Clark Carpenter as they recently changed jobs at the School House.

]]> Comment on AP’s George Esper passes by Jack Paxton http://www.usmccca.org/archives/5884/comment-page-1#comment-480 Jack Paxton Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:32:37 +0000 http://www.usmccca.org/?p=5884#comment-480 Many of us who served in Vietnam knew George very well. He was a regular at the Danang CIB with his AP running mate, Eddie Adams, during my tour beginning in 1965. He was, to say the least, a bulldog in his approach. From a personal standpoint he and Eddie saved my "bacon" following a confrontation with an overbearing columnist from the Chicago Tribune. He was a good guy! Many of us who served in Vietnam knew George very well. He was a regular at the Danang CIB with his AP running mate, Eddie Adams, during my tour beginning in 1965. He was, to say the least, a bulldog in his approach. From a personal standpoint he and Eddie saved my “bacon” following a confrontation with an overbearing columnist from the Chicago Tribune. He was a good guy!

]]> Comment on We Are Marines…Still by Bob McEwen http://www.usmccca.org/archives/5882/comment-page-1#comment-479 Bob McEwen Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:58:53 +0000 http://www.usmccca.org/?p=5882#comment-479 Crane Davis? Seem to recall a bunch of us stuck at a SAC base when our 1942 C-54 had a landing gear problem and were "stuck" in New Mexico while flying home from CC conference in Palm Springs area. Highlight of the conference was Gen. Lew Walt chewing out CBS for Morley Safer's phony "expose" of Marines burning a "hooch" in Vietnam which was really an arms storage shack. While in DOD PA, I was the duty officer monitoring the networks when that aired; Safer (Canadian)had footage shot showing VN women saying "Hello" and said they were begging the Zippo-armed Marines to not burn their home. We had fun in NM as the CO of the Clovis base gave us Flag Officer privilege to keep the O-Club open as long as we wished. I was a MSGT in Fleet Reserve at the time, and I think Crane was in the NY office with Gladys McPartland and company. Unfortunately, my boss at Newspaper Enterprise Assn. insisted I get by butt back to work and paid for commercial air home to Cleveland and get back to work. Damn, we were young then. Semper Fi. Bob Crane Davis? Seem to recall a bunch of us stuck at a SAC base when our 1942 C-54 had a landing gear problem and were “stuck” in New Mexico while flying home from CC conference in Palm Springs area. Highlight of the conference was Gen. Lew Walt chewing out CBS for Morley Safer’s phony “expose” of Marines burning a “hooch” in Vietnam which was really an arms storage shack. While in DOD PA, I was the duty officer monitoring the networks when that aired; Safer (Canadian)had footage shot showing VN women saying “Hello” and said they were begging the Zippo-armed Marines to not burn their home. We had fun in NM as the CO of the Clovis base gave us Flag Officer privilege to keep the O-Club open as long as we wished. I was a MSGT in Fleet Reserve at the time, and I think Crane was in the NY office with Gladys McPartland and company. Unfortunately, my boss at Newspaper Enterprise Assn. insisted I get by butt back to work and paid for commercial air home to Cleveland and get back to work. Damn, we were young then. Semper Fi. Bob

]]> Comment on We Are Marines…Still by Jack Paxton http://www.usmccca.org/archives/5882/comment-page-1#comment-478 Jack Paxton Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:24:06 +0000 http://www.usmccca.org/?p=5882#comment-478 Would be great to hear from the others in the photo. Obviously you should be members. Many of you would qualify as "MAWK'S SNUFFIES..." Let us hear from you... Would be great to hear from the others in the photo. Obviously you should be members. Many of you would qualify as “MAWK’S SNUFFIES…” Let us hear from you…

]]> Comment on Bryan Salas to retire by Jack Paxton http://www.usmccca.org/archives/5852/comment-page-1#comment-476 Jack Paxton Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:22:12 +0000 http://www.usmccca.org/?p=5852#comment-476 The Association has been blessed with a series of fine officers serving in the Director's slot starting in our tenure with Col. Dave Lapan, then-BrigGen. "Boomer" Milstead, followed by Col. Salas and now, Brig. Gen. (s) Paul Kennedy. Bryan Salas not only joined us, he then was elected a Director. I cannot remember a request we made of him he did not honor. In a personal email following this announcement he pledged to continue his membership and his interest in the Association..."just give me a while to get situated." We wish him fair winds, good luck and God speed The Association has been blessed with a series of fine officers serving in the Director’s slot starting in our tenure with Col. Dave Lapan, then-BrigGen. “Boomer” Milstead, followed by Col. Salas and now, Brig. Gen. (s) Paul Kennedy. Bryan Salas not only joined us, he then was elected a Director. I cannot remember a request we made of him he did not honor. In a personal email following this announcement he pledged to continue his membership and his interest in the Association…”just give me a while to get situated.” We wish him fair winds, good luck and God speed

]]> Comment on Harmon: The Passing of “Gunny Jawn” life member by George Chrisman http://www.usmccca.org/archives/5771/comment-page-1#comment-469 George Chrisman Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:41:13 +0000 http://www.usmccca.org/?p=5771#comment-469 Since we first met as part of then-Maj. John Hampton's FMFPac PIO office at Pearl Harbor in 1953, we have gotten together at CC conferences to swap lies. He was a great guy and I was fortunate to have worked with him. Except for the Marine Corps,his great passion was the railroad. He once told me he applied to both and whichever called first, that would be it. You know who won. But it was great to see Gunny Jawn decked out in conductor's garb herding tourists onto the little railway train in Jamestown, Calif., during his retirement years in Tuolumne. They're all gone now -- John Hampton, Al Borgstede. George Courtney, Dee Naylon, Harmon. All treasured, all missed. Semper Fidelis to all, George. Since we first met as part of then-Maj. John Hampton’s FMFPac PIO office at Pearl Harbor in 1953, we have gotten together at CC conferences to swap lies. He was a great guy and I was fortunate to have worked with him. Except for the Marine Corps,his great passion was the railroad. He once told me he applied to both and whichever called first, that would be it. You know who won. But it was great to see Gunny Jawn decked out in conductor’s garb herding tourists onto the little railway train in Jamestown, Calif., during his retirement years in Tuolumne. They’re all gone now — John Hampton, Al Borgstede. George Courtney, Dee Naylon, Harmon. All treasured, all missed. Semper Fidelis to all, George.

]]> Comment on Harmon: The Passing of “Gunny Jawn” life member by Kate Stark http://www.usmccca.org/archives/5771/comment-page-1#comment-467 Kate Stark Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:53:45 +0000 http://www.usmccca.org/?p=5771#comment-467 My heart sank when I heard this news. John was such a great guy. I looked forward to hearing his loud voice at the conferences knowing his grumpy facade was just that. He had a heart of gold. I only met him once a year, but we always picked up where we left off from the previous years' conferences. He was so amazed at the young Marines and what they accomplished. He loved meeting other CCs, he enjoyed life despite being wheelchair-bound and 94. He was want I want to be when I grow up. Semper Fi Gunny! I will sorely miss you. My heart sank when I heard this news. John was such a great guy. I looked forward to hearing his loud voice at the conferences knowing his grumpy facade was just that. He had a heart of gold.

I only met him once a year, but we always picked up where we left off from the previous years’ conferences. He was so amazed at the young Marines and what they accomplished. He loved meeting other CCs, he enjoyed life despite being wheelchair-bound and 94. He was want I want to be when I grow up. Semper Fi Gunny! I will sorely miss you.

]]> Comment on Who Was This BrigGen. Robert L. Denig Sr.? by Bob McEwen http://www.usmccca.org/archives/5682/comment-page-1#comment-451 Bob McEwen Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:10:09 +0000 http://www.usmccca.org/?p=5682#comment-451 Walter Shipman was at our 1972 Conference at the Washington conference and I happened to be near the hotel cashier's desk when I saw him about to check out the afternoon of the bannquet. I approached him and asked about his plan to leave. When I said we would be delighted to have him at the head table that evening, he reconsidered and stayed. Many of the originals were present and he agreed to join us. He was a fine looking not-so-young Marine at the time and I was delighted to have his company. M-C at the banquet was Col. Dick Stark, actor/broadcaster/OinC of NY PR office. Jack Lewis was immediate past president (chairman, USMCCCA),BG Bob Conley, Dir. Information (now DivPA) and Jim Kyser, Chairman who along with Dick Nicklin, set up the conference with great assistance from other HQMC PA fellow members. Gen.Cushman, CMC, and his retinue were present almost too long as the Hospitality suite continued. Col. Sally was another still around who attended. A great celebration. Semper Fi. Bob Walter Shipman was at our 1972 Conference at the Washington conference and I happened to be near the hotel cashier’s desk when I saw him about to check out the afternoon of the bannquet. I approached him and asked about his plan to leave. When I said we would be delighted to have him at the head table that evening, he reconsidered and stayed. Many of the originals were present and he agreed to join us. He was a fine looking not-so-young Marine at the time and I was delighted to have his company. M-C at the banquet was Col. Dick Stark, actor/broadcaster/OinC of NY PR office. Jack Lewis was immediate past president (chairman, USMCCCA),BG Bob Conley, Dir. Information (now DivPA) and Jim Kyser, Chairman who along with Dick Nicklin, set up the conference with great assistance from other HQMC PA fellow members. Gen.Cushman, CMC, and his retinue were present almost too long as the Hospitality suite continued. Col. Sally was another still around who attended. A great celebration. Semper Fi. Bob

]]> Comment on Who Was This BrigGen. Robert L. Denig Sr.? by Bob McEwen http://www.usmccca.org/archives/5682/comment-page-1#comment-440 Bob McEwen Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:44:55 +0000 http://www.usmccca.org/?p=5682#comment-440 Being old has its benefits. I had the honor of meeting Gen. Denig at his Virginia Beach home on Nov. 11, 1971, when as CC president, I presented him with our new Life Member card and a plaque. CWO G.G. Thomas from FMFLANT, Norfolk accompanied me. The general offered me a drink and asked me to pour as his hand shook a bit. I did, and raised my glass when he stopped me and said wait a few minutes. We quaffed the spirits at 1100, 11/11 1971. He further entertained me by displaying the portraits of his two sons, both Marine Officers, one of whom was killed in WWII, and was portayed standing by one of his tanks. Believe the photo of us taken by Gunner Thomas, was probably the last published in a Corps publication (USMCCCA Newsletter). Being old has its benefits. I had the honor of meeting Gen. Denig at his Virginia Beach home on Nov. 11, 1971, when as CC president, I presented him with our new Life Member card and a plaque. CWO G.G. Thomas from FMFLANT, Norfolk accompanied me. The general offered me a drink and asked me to pour as his hand shook a bit. I did, and raised my glass when he stopped me and said wait a few minutes. We quaffed the spirits at 1100, 11/11 1971. He further entertained me by displaying the portraits of his two sons, both Marine Officers, one of whom was killed in WWII, and was portayed standing by one of his tanks. Believe the photo of us taken by Gunner Thomas, was probably the last published in a Corps publication (USMCCCA Newsletter).

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