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National Chaplain Frank Wiley alerts us that CC stalwart and former board member Bob Mergle 's brother, Frank, is in serious condition in a Buffalo, New York hospital. Prayers and strong good thoughts solicited...

CC baseball fans may not get THIS version of the National Anthem when the Atlanta Braves host the Miami Marlins August 21st, in conjunction with the 2019 Professional Training Symposium. But there WILL be a rousing playing of the National Anthem - and there WILL be beer and hot dogs! Click here for $4 tickets! .

Things are shaping up for our annual event in Atlanta next month. (It's time to make reservations, if you haven't already). A schedule of events is being firmed up and you can download it here . Other links for those attending the 2019 USMCCCA COMMSTRAT TRAINING & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT Schedule of events as of July 22, 2019 Hotel Reservation rate $152 per night (expires 7/29/19 or when group block is sold out) USMCCCA Registration $150 Awards Banquet Reservation $

Lucian Read , the civilian combat photographer who captured the iconic Iraqi War image “Hell House” of then-First Sgt. Brad Kasal being helped out of battle-scarred building by two of his men, is scheduled to receive the Robert L. Denig, Sr. Memorial Distinguished Service Award in Atlanta at the USMCCCA Annual Awards Banquet on August 22. The image, already the subject of statues and paintings, also adorns the cover of Lucian’s soon to be released book, All of Which I Saw:

By Pfc. Triton Lai MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan (July 10, 2019) – Kintai magazine was awarded the 2018 Visual Information and Excellence in Communication first place Printed Publication Award from the United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 21, 2019. Yukie Wada , an editorial desktop publishing specialist and the Kintai editor with Communication Strategy and Operations (COMMSTRAT) at MCAS Iwakun

For the first time in years, we will actually have an election. It's exciting to have new blood, new ideas on the board. The absentee ballots were mailed today, so please complete and return your vote if you do not plan to attend the business meeting in Atlanta during the 2019 USMCCCA Professional Development & Training Symposium, Aug.19-23.  If you are an affiliate or honorary member you will not receive a ballot and cannot vote as per our bylaws . All absentee votes will b

Editors note: The following candidates are running unopposed and will be elected at the annual business meeting, Aug. 19-23 in Atlanta, after slate is approved by voting members . As the daughter of a retired USMC master sergeant, Annita Best doesn’t recall a life outside of the Marine Corps. Born at Camp Pendleton, CA, she moved to the Midwest with her family upon her dad’s retirement and attended Culver Stockton College, receiving degrees in English and Journalism. Aft

Editors note: The following candidates are running unopposed and will be elected at the annual business meeting, Aug. 19-23 in Atlanta, after slate is approved by voting members . Chris Whiting is currently serving her twentieth term as the USMCCCA Secretary.  She retired from active duty in 1999 as a gunnery sergeant.  During her 20-year Marine Corps career, she held various Public Affairs billets such as photojournalist, editor, press chief, community relations chief

Editors note: The following candidates are running unopposed and will be elected at the annual business meeting, Aug. 19-23 in Atlanta, after slate is approved by voting members. After serving as a combat correspondent, Shawn Rhodes became an international expert in creating high-performing organizations.  He's a Tampa-based TEDx speaker and his work studying teams in more than two dozen countries has been published in news outlets including TIME, CNN, NBC, Forbes, the W

Editors note: The following candidates are running unopposed and will be elected at the annual business meeting, Aug. 19-23 in Atlanta, after slate is approved by voting members. Dan Clare is a former enlisted Marine who currently serves as a senior communications specialist for the Disabled American Veterans .  At DAV, he directs the production of written, electronic, photographic and digital media, including DAV Magazine, and web content.  Through media relations, social n

Editors Note: For the first time in many years, we have five candidates for two open seats on the Association's Board of Directors. We are introducing you to one candidate per day, in no particular order. Please remember to vote via absentee ballot if you cannot be at the annual business meeting in Atlanta Aug. 19-23. Candidate 5 of 5 Sharon Fox currently works as the first former combat correspondent and MPA ever hired to work on the Marine Corps account at J. Walter Thom

Editors Note: For the first time in many years, we have five candidates for two open seats on the Association's Board of Directors. We are introducing you to one candidate per day, in no particular order. Please remember to vote via absentee ballot if you cannot be at the annual business meeting in Atlanta Aug. 19-23. Candidate 4 of 5 Karen Anne Holliday recently became the CommStrat and Operations Director for the 22 nd MEU.  Now an active duty captain, she has been an e

Editors Note: For the first time in many years, we have five candidates for two open seats on the Association's Board of Directors. We are introducing you to one candidate per day, in no particular order. Please remember to vote via absentee ballot if you cannot be at the annual business meeting in Atlanta Aug. 19-23. Candidate 3 of 5 James Chittenden is a sought-after consultant for entrepreneurs who want a strong and orderly start to their business, and to business owner

Editors Note: For the first time in many years, we have five candidates for two open seats on the Association's Board of Directors. We are introducing you to one candidate per day, in no particular order. Please remember to vote via absentee ballot if you cannot be at the annual business meeting in Atlanta Aug. 19-23. Candidate 2 of 5 Conner Downey was born on Sept. 18, 1997, and raised in small town Wisconsin. Upon receiving his diploma in 2016 with highest honors, Downey

Editors Note: For the first time in many years, we have five candidates for two open seats on the Association's Board of Directors. We are introducing you to one candidate per day, in no particular order. Please remember to vote via absentee ballot if you cannot be at the annual business meeting in Atlanta Aug. 19-23. Candidate 1 of 5 Bryan McDonnell is an active duty Mustang captain, currently serving as the CommStrat and Operations Director at MCRD Parris Island/ERR . D

Gunnar S. Carlson a recent graduate of the U.S. Military Academy shows off his West Point ring, with his proud father, Eric Carlson . The pair attended a formal banquet preceding graduation. Gunnar is now heading to the Army infantry officers course followed by Ranger School and Airborne jump school at Ft. Benning Ga. Upon completion he will report to 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky. sometime next year. Since Eric retired from the Corps in 1998, he has been wor

CC Jerry Payne had sad news for us. His wife, Marcia Kay Payne, 72, of Spotsylvania passed away on Thursday, June 13 at Mary Washington Hospital. Mrs. Payne was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Survivors include her husband, Benjamin Jerry Payne ; children Alisa K. Thompson (Ethan) and Scott Payne (Rachel); grandchildren Adryan A. Payne, Meagan Thompson and Shane Thompson; siblings Barbara Liu (Marvin), Bill Holliday (Sue) and Rick Holliday (Cindy); and numerous nieces and neph

Happy Birthday later this month to USMCCCA Tribal Elder and proven Association workhorse Don Knight in Kensington, Maryland. Don, who will be 95 on June 25, was born and raised in Weymouth, Massachusetts, and upon graduation from high school, he and five classmates “escaped” the draft by joining the U.S. Marines and shipping out to the South Pacific at the height of World War II. After the war, he leveraged his G.I. Bill to earn a journalism degree from Boston University,

National VP Shawn Rhodes and affiliate member Linda Oliver are among the Florida-based media covering the educator workshop at MCRD Parris Island this week. Special thanks to RS Tampa MAC Marine Sgt. Calvin Shamoon and RS Jacksonville MAC Marine Cpl. Mike Hernandez for the invite.  Watch this space for an update or two!  (Photo by National USMCCCA President Keith Oliver )