2009 Merit Awards Program Underway

OPEN PHOTOGRAPHY  by Cpl. Lendus B. Casey

2007 OPEN PHOTOGRAPHY winner by Cpl. Lendus B. Casey.Tomotaka Sekiguchi, motorcycle mechanic and Japanese national, crouches next to his custom built motorcycle set on display at this year’s 3rd Annual Oshima Motorcycle Camp Meeting.

Hundreds of submissions in the 2009 USMCCCA Merit Awards program are being screened and assembled at the Division of Public Affairs, Marine Corps headquarters, Pentagon.

With a deadline of February 16 the entries are still pouring in.  Another record breaking year in terms of volume in the print, broadcast and photographic competitions may be in the making, says MGySgt. Phil Mehringer, chief of Marine Corps public affairs and liaison to the association. 

His headquarters team for the project includes GySgt. Ronna Weyland, GySgt. Steve Williams (Marines TV), Sgt. Clinton Firstbrook and LCpl. Bryan Carfrey. Association Awards Chair Don Knight met with several members of the team at the National Press Club in December to discuss the recruitment of judges, a judging venue in Washington, D.C. on March 6 and 7, and the presentation of awards at the 2009 Annual Conference of the USMCCCA at Hampton, VA in September.

(more…)

Remembering CC Robert J. “Bob” Powell Jr., 81

Recently passed CC Bob Powell (r) is pictured with (l-r) Col. John Ripley and Brock and Jonathan Oliver in this 1988 photo taken at Camp Lejeune.  It was a tough November for the Marine Corps:  John Ripley also died as well as former Commandant, Gen. Robert H. Barrow.
Recently passed CC Bob Powell (r) is pictured with (l-r) Col. John Ripley and Brock and Jonathan Oliver in this 1988 photo taken at Camp Lejeune. It was a tough November for the Marine Corps: John Ripley also died as well as former Commandant, Gen. Robert H. Barrow.

CC Bob Powell died Oct. 19, 2008 in Mechanicsville, Va.  A WWII veteran who was recalled to active duty to train Korea-bound Marines at Camp Lejeune, he earned a Silver Star and two Bronze Star Medals during fighting in the Pacific.

(more…)