The Marine Corps Association would once again like to thank our corporate sponsors for their generous support. Our sponsors are listed below:
Gold
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Alion Science & Technology
BAE Systems
Boeing
Booz Allen Hamilton
CACI
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Eagan, McAllister
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EDO Professional
Services, Inc.
Exeter Government Services
General Dynamics - ATP
General Dynamics Corporation
Honeywell
IBM
Keane Federal Systems
L-3 Communications
Titan Group
Lincoln Group
Lockheed Martin Corporation
MIL Corporation
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Oshkosh Truck
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Rolls Royce
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Talley Defense Systems
Wachenhut Services, Inc.
Supporting Sponsor:
Navy Federal Credit Union
Sprint
21 September 2006 Crystal Gateway Marriott
Commandant of Marine Corps lauds unbelievable resiliency and magnificent performance of Marines at MCA Annual Ground Awards Dinner
The Marine Corps Association and Headquarters Marine Corps, Plans, Policies and Operations Department were pleased to present the annual MCA Ground Awards Dinner at the Crystal Gateway Marriott hotel in Arlington, Virginia on the evening of 21 September 2006. MCA Ground Dinners serve as a professional forum for discussion of issues pertaining to the headquarters, ground combat and combat service support elements of the flexible Marine Air Ground Task Force or MAGTF. Annually, one of the Ground Dinners changes this focus. The annual Ground Awards Dinner serves to recognize and focus attention on highly deserving Marines in the ground community. Annually, this Awards Dinner recognizes the achievements and service of the Marine of the Year for each Marine Division and also serves as the opportunity to present the Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership to the ground USMC Captain in a company or battery command, most exemplary for leadership.
This year’s event was very well attended and was graced by the presence of a wide range of important decision makers and personages who enthusiastically supported the event. Over 26 active duty and retired Marine General officers attended to highlight the significance of the event. Included among the distinguished guests were, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Michael W. Hagee, USMC, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt Maj John Estrada, USMC, The Chaplain of the Marine Corps, Rear Admiral Alan T. Baker, USN, Congressman Darryl Issa whose district includes the Camp Pendleton area, author Frank Schaeffer, author of Baby Jack and AWOL, and H. Ross Perot, industrial leader and former candidate for President of the United States. Additionally, the families of Captain John W. Maloney, posthumous winner of the 2005 Leftwich Trophy and the widow and son of LtCol William Leftwich, for whom the award is named, were in attendance. The event was well supported by active duty and retired Marines of all ranks and included members of foreign military as well, with the military attaches from Ukraine, Norway and Croatia in attendance.
A festive cocktail hour preceded the event as attendees gathered and several of the corporate sponsors were pleased to showcase a variety of interesting exhibits featuring equipment in development and of use to Marines.
As dinner approached, the crowd was briefly entertained by “The President’s Own, The Marine Band” who played a medley of pleasing dinner music tunes that set the mood.
Following orientation guidance and VIP recognition by MCA’s Colonel Walt Davis and Colonel Bill Hughes, the Marine Barracks 8th & I Color Guard presented the colors while the President's OwnMarine Band played suitable martial music in accompaniment. The new Chaplain of the Marine Corps, RADM Baker, provided a graceful event invocation.
LtGen Jan Huly, Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations, (PP&O) Headquarters Marine Corps provided some opening remarks prior to introducing the guest speaker. Acknowledging the many VIP’s and special guests in attendance, he accorded generous praise to the event sponsors for their support and then pointed out that this was the 9th such event co-hosted by MCA and PP&O under his command.
Introduced by LtGen Huly, guest speaker General Michael W. Hagee, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps, provided brief and often humorous remarks to set the stage and focus attention on the award recipients. General Hagee pointed out early that the night was about honoring and recognizing the awardees. Expressing great humility at being in the company of Marines as amazing as those with which our Corps is currently blessed, he told a great anecdote about entertainment personality Cher which assisted in driving his point home about the unique nature of Marines. Giving high praise to Cher, he noted with admiration that she routinely visits Marine wounded in Bethesda Naval Hospital. Having occasion to meet her on one of her visitation sessions, he mentioned to her that he was about to make a Purple Heart Medal Presentation to a wounded Marine. Cher allowed that she had never been to a medal presentation and asked if she could attend. The Commandant brought her to the presentation, introduced Cher to the wounded Marine and presented the award. Joining in with the spirit of camaraderie, Cher said to the Marine “You must be excited. You were awarded the Purple Heart and you got to meet Cher at the same time!” The commandant said he could have kissed the Marine when he responded to Cher, “No Ma’am, I am excited because I got to meet the Commandant!”
Continuing, the Commandant expressed awe at the resiliency of our Marines responding to the current operational tempo and said that, contrary to what the press has been indicating, he did not think the tempo was actually hurting the Marine Corps. In this vein, he stated that Marines are doing a fantastic job and performing magnificently, and pointed out that when Marines are well led, well equipped, well supported from home and believe in what they are doing they surmount the friction and deliver. Dwelling on this theme, he said that because Marines are so universally engaged and busy, some high end training such as the CAX program has suffered but has been replaced with programs that are even more demanding of all, particularly of junior leaders like those honored at the event.
Continuing his laudatory remarks about Marines, he related the story of 1st Sgt Bradley Kasal as further example of the kind of leadership, camaraderie and selflessness he indicated was so endemic in our Marines today. When informed that 4 of his unit’s Marines were wounded and trapped in a house occupied by insurgents, the 1st Sgt, pulled out his 9mm pistol and charged into the house to effect a rescue. Unwilling to fail, the 1st Sgt, pulled out all 4 wounded marines against highly determined opposition and was shot 7 times and incurred 48 pieces of shrapnel in the process. When thanked for his heroic efforts, the 1st Sgt replied humbly, “No thanks necessary-just taking care of my Marines.” The commandant observed we have a LOT like 1st Sgt Kasal and was pleased to note that the he was subsequently promoted to Sergeant Major and appropriately awarded the Navy Cross.
He related another, similar anecdote about a very junior Marine who rescued numerous comrades injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) while under heavy fire for which he, also, was subsequently awarded a Navy Cross. When asked about his actions afterwards, the Marine stated “I did it for my buddies.” Amplifying that common theme of supporting one’s comrades, the Commandant related that we have a lot of 19 and 20 year olds who “believe in something”. That “something” is service, dedication, mission accomplishment, loyalty to comrades, unit, country, esprit, and pride in our Marine Corps. With that sentiment amply and proudly expressed and following an enjoyable dinner, General Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps, turned proudly to the task of presenting recognition awards to some of the Corps finest Marines.
Following below are photographs of the event award presentations and links to recipient biographies and related information. Awards were presented by General Hagee with Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, John Estrada assisting.
The Marine Corps Association is very grateful to our corporate sponsors for generously supporting the Ground Awards Dinner. In particular, we are very grateful for sponsorship support of the Marine of the Year Awards. The Marine of the Year Award is a coveted Non Commissioned Officer Sword encased in a handsome shadow box. The Marine Corps Association and our sponsors all join to offer congratulations to this year’s Marines of the Year and to thank them for their hard work, dedication and service.
1st Mar Div Marine of the Year Winner
Sergeant Brian G. Bowman, USMC
sponsored by 
2nd Mar Div Marine of the Year Winner
Sergeant Aaron C. Torian, USMC
NOTE that Sgt Torian was deployed in Fallujah, Iraq at the time of the
presentation and his award was received by his wife Jurley.
sponsored by 
3rd Mar Div Marine of the Year Winner
Corporal Charles R. Stiles, USMC
sponsored by
4th Mar Div Marine of the Year Winner
Sergeant Ryan W. Matjeka, USMC
sponsored by 
Click HERE for Biographies and pictures of the 2005 Marine Divisions-Marine of the Year Award winners
2005 Leftwich Trophy Winner
Captain John W. Maloney, USMC
(Click HERE for Bio-include Bio Picture at link.)
Click here to read about the 2005 Leftwich Trophy winner at MilitaryCity.com.
The Marine Corps Association is grateful for the generous support of the H. Ross Perot Foundation for providing the endowment that supports the annual presentation of the Leftwich Trophy. The trophy is rendered in bronze and depicts a Viet Nam era Marine Officer aggressively leading from the front which epitomizes the character of the award winner each year.
The Leftwich Trophy is intended to recognize active duty captains in the ground combat arms community, holding company or battery command who clearly and dramatically demonstrate the ideals of courage, resourcefulness, perseverance and concern for the well being of our Corps and it’s enlisted Marines. For the first time in the history of the award, which spans back to 1979, this year’s award is presented posthumously. Captain John W. Maloney, died in combat operations in Iraq after being recommended for the award.
The Award is provided through a foundation, which was established by H. Ross Perot who was a Naval Academy roommate of Lt Col William Leftwich, for whom the trophy is named.
Click here for more photos provided by www.usmc.mil
The Marine Corps Association Ground Dinner is a professional forum cosponsored by the Marine Corps Association and Headquarters Marine Corps, Plans, Policies, and Operations Department. The purpose of this event is to provide a forum for discussion of issues pertaining to the headquarters element, ground combat element, and the combat service support elements of the Marine air-ground task force. The dinners are attended by active duty Marines, reservists, retirees, Marine veterans, and Corps-friendly members of industry.
Guest speakers at recent Marine Corps Association Ground Dinners have included: Gen Peter Pace, Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen James L. Jones, Jr., 32d Commandant of the Marine Corps; and LtGen James N. Mattis, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command/Deputy Commandant for Combat Development; Gen M. W. Hagee, 33d Commandant of the Marine Corps; and Gen Anthony Zinni, USMC (Ret).
