Conference 2008

2008 Conference Highlights

  The 2008 annual conference is now history
   The consensus of 233 registered CCs, Marines and their guests: Outstanding!
   Starting with the Tuesday evening (August 12) Welcome Reception and continuing through the well-attended Business Brunch on Friday young warriors mixed easily with the “tribal elders” to create one of the better bonding sessions seen yet.
   Going into the conference we only knew that the guest of honor was a former Director of Information. An official invite had originally been made to then-LtGen. John Amos. Because of his promotion to general and appointment as Assistant Commandant, he had to bow out. Then an invite was made to retiring Lt. Gen. John Sattler who, as a one-star, was Director of Information. Because of his busy schedule, he too, sent regrets.
We knew, going in, that MajGen. (select) Robert “Boomer” Milstead, our most recent Director of Information and now head of the Recruiting Command, had said he would be there. By default, he became Guest of Honor.

“Boomer” was quick to remind the Banquet audience that, although he was not the original – or even the second choice – he was honored. He is, as many agree, one great piece of work! His remarks were right on the money and appreciated by both youngster and oldster alike.

One of the highlights of the conference was the introduction of BrigGen. (select) Gregg Sturdevant, our new leader at DivPA. He literally hit the ground running by participating in all of the conference activities. There is an old show business adage that you should “never follow a banjo act with a banjo act.” In this case we feel comfortable that our new Director will bring the same great enthusiasm and camaraderie to the job that our outgoing Director did.

We were a bit disappointed that only a few of the first place Merit Award winners were able to make it but given the demands of the Corps in Iraq, and now Afghanistan, we understood and gave the 23 winners, which included second place and honorable mention, enthusiastic applause.

A possible new record for honors in the Merit Award competition was achieved by Sgt. Ethan Rocke, who picked up five first place awards, as well as several lesser ones. Rocke was on hand and received a thunderous ovation.

We honored Sgt. Tim Shelby with our own William T. Perkins Combat Videographer of the Year award. Shelby stood tall as National President Keith Oliver made the presentation with Gen. Milstead and General (s) Sturdevant. Equally proud were Tim’s parents who came for the presentation.

Col. Walt Ford, Editor/Publisher of Leatherneck Magazine, presented the Ronald Lyons Award to Cpl. Warren Peace for his article “Trekking in The Gobi Desert,” published in the September 2007 issue. Cpl. John Parry, MB, Washington, received the coveted Tom Bartlett Award for January 2008 Best Cover.

Walt also honored three of the six Marketing and Public Affairs (MPA) winners in attendance with Kabar Plaques. The three were SSgt. Roman Yurek, and Sgts. Andy Miller and Chris Berryman. It was then announced that Roman Yurek had won the Marine Corps saber as MPA of the Year.

Jim Brady, Parade Magazine celebrity columnist and former Marine platoon leader in Korea, was honored with the 2008 BrigGen. Robert L. Denig Memorial Distinguished Performance Award. The personable 80-year-old was humbled by the award, telling the audience that of all things he was proudest of in his life was being a Marine. The following morning at the Business Meeting Brunch he regaled the audience with the trials and tribulations (many times humorous) of interviewing some of the best known “and beautiful” celebrities as well as his efforts in getting his many books published. Jim also sat through an autograph session of his most recent book, “Why Marines Fight.”

The 2008 President‘s Award was presented to past President Red Carpenter by Keith Oliver for Red’s many contributions to the Association this past year, including the negotiation with hotels for the next two conferences. Thanks to Red’s efforts the 2009 conference will be held in Hampton, VA and the 2010 conference in Reno, NV.

The finale of the evening was the awarding of the 2008 Donald L. Dickson Memorial Award to our National Chaplain, Mawk Arnold. Mawk, choking back tears, acknowledged this as the highlight of his life with our organization.

by Jack T. Paxton, Executive Director

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Pictured with “Alamo Don” are (from left), Intrepid Program Manager Dr. Rebecca Hooper, Marine Corps University Foundation (MCUF) President and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Tom Draude and newly-elected National USMCCCA President Fred Lash.

USMCCCA RAISES WOUNDED WARRIOR ISSUES
AT SAN ANTONIO CONFERENCEConference Chairman Don O’Neal arranged a visit to the Center for the Intrepid at San Antonio’s Brooke Army Medical Center, just one part of an overall push this year to raise CC awareness (and financial support) for some of America’s best “wounded warrior” programs. CC Cpl. Aaron Mankin, severely burned in an IED attack in Iraq, helped Don squire members on the special tour. Later, Aaron received a standing ovation from the membership in recognition of his toughness and continuing, remarkable recovery.

MCUF also sponsored a lively PME session for the Combat Correspondents – a 25th Year Beirut retrospective that included Middle East expert Claude Salhani; former French Liaison Officer, Lt. Col. Jim Diehl, USMC (ret); and veteran PAOs, Maj. Bob Jordan, USMC (ret) and Randy Gaddo, USMC (ret), both of whom were serving on the ground in Beirut when the Battalion Landing Team headquarters was destroyed on Oct. 23, 1983. (Photo by Cpl. Samuel D. White)

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Certainly a highlight on Thursday was the Beirut Panel, brought to us by the Marine Corps University Foundation and scheduled as a tune-up for the upcoming 25th Annual Remembrance of the horrific bombings on Oct. 23, 1983.

The panel brought together a healthy mix of bona fide experts: Lt. Col. Jim Diehl, an infantry officer who won a USMCCCA Distinguished Performance Award (DPA) in 1988, had served in Lebanon twice — as a company commander and as liaison officer to the French forces — and brought an operator’s perspective to the panel.

Longtime CC Bob Jordan, who was recognized with a special award at the 1984 conference in West Palm Beach, was the on-scene PAO during those trying days back when. Many in the audience had served in the ‘Root, as well, including Hartman Slate, Fred Lash, Bob Bernal and Cal Openshaw.

Middle East Times editor Claude Salhani, a favorite among Marines there, continues to write and speak for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The seminar was hosted by retired CC member, Marine CWO-4 Randy Gaddo, current president of the Beirut Veterans of America. Randy, who retired as 6th District PAO out of Atlanta, was the Root Scoop editor in Lebanon and pulled tours at Camp Pendleton, Quantico and Beaufort. He also was personal media trainer for several general officers during duty at Headquarters Marine Corp.

A special trip on Wednesday saw some conferees making their way to nearby Brooke Army Hospital where CCs visited the Center for the Intrepid. Donated by “over 600,000 Americans,” Dr. Rebecca Hooper, program manager, showed off the facility’s two-story climbing wall, indoor running track, swimming (and surfing!) pool and world-class gait lab.

The USMCCCA’s own Aaron Makin, along with Conference Chair Don O’Neal, led the expedition.

Accompanying the group was retired BGen. Tom Draude, a former Marine Corps Director of Public Affairs. The general heads the aforementioned Marine Corps University Foundation and served the University directly as the Barrow Distinguished Chair of Military Studies.

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SSgt. Roman Yurek, MPA of the Year, receives the Navy Achievement Medal from MajGen. (s) Robert “Boomer” Milstead, GOH, and, Director, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. Yurek also received a staff nco saber for his achievement.
MajGen. (s) Robert “Boomer” Milstead, GOH, presents the 2008 William T. Perkins Combat Videographer of the Year award, as BrigGen. (s) Gregg Sturdivant, Director of Information, and Keith Oliver look on.
Col. Walt Ford, Editor/Publisher, Leatherneck Magazine presents the presents the 2008 BrigGen. Robert L. Denig Sr. Memorial Distinguished Performance Award to James “Jim Brady, Parade Magazine celebrity columnist and former Marine platoon leader, as MajGen. Robert “Boomer” Milstead,
GOH, and BrigGen. Gregg Sturdivant look on.

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DINFOS, BEIRUT AMONG TOPICS

Defense Information School Master Instructor, Lt. Col. Riccoh Player (left) and retired CWO-4 Randy Gaddo are among the speakers slated for the 67th USMC Combat Correspondents Association Conference in San Antonio Aug. 12-15. Player, who teaches in the Public Affairs Leadership Department, will present a “State of DINFOS” brief to attendees. Gaddo is president of the Beirut Veterans of America and will chair a special panel on historical lesson learned from the Marines’ deployment to Lebanon in the early 1980s.

(may change)
Tuesday, August 12
0730: Registration Desk open
0830-1600: DivPA Senior Leadership Sessions
1830-2000: Welcome Reception (all hands)
2000-2400: CIB Open-Room 2032

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Conference Schedule

Wednesday, August 13
0645: Prayer Breakfast (non-conference event)
0830: Welcome: USMCCCA President Keith Oliver
DivPA Director Col. Dave Lapan
Conference Chairman: Don O’Neal
0900-1630: Photography & Broadcast Training (Marines not in PA Senior Leadership sessions)
0900-1000: (Joint) MCRC & J. Walter Thompson
1000-1130: (Joint) Iraq Panel
1100-1330: Limited visit to Brooke Army Medical Center (Note: Members sign up at Registration)
1300-1400: (Joint) Wisdom for The Ages Col. Katie Haddock
1400-1500: (Joint) HQMC Community Relations
1500-1630: DivPA Senior Leadership session
1500-1630: Old Board Meeting
Open Evening
2200-2400: CIB Opens-Room 2032

Thursday, August 14
0730-Registration Desk opens
0830-1000: Joint session: Marines and The Media with Joe Galloway & others to be named
1000-1130: Joint session: DINFOS’ “What’s Happening Now”
1300-1500: Joint session: Beirut 25 Years Later panel
1500-1630: Rehearsal for Awards Banquet
1830- 1930: Reception.
1930- 2200: 2008 Merit Awards Banquet
2200- 2400: CIB Open-Room 2032

Friday, August 15
930-1030: Business Brunch
1030-1130: USMCCCA Business Meeting and Election of Officers. Guest speaker: Marine author/Parade Magazine columnist, Jim Brady
1130-1230: New Board Meeting
1100-1330: Wives Function
1330: Conference Adjourns

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