United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association

The United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association (USMCCCA) is a not-for-profit fraternal and patriotic organization comprising active duty, reserve, retired and former Marines who served as Combat Correspondents or Combat Communicators, as well as civilians who worked in journalism, photography, broadcasting, graphic arts, advertising and public relations. According to its own description, it is the only professional organization of its kind in the U.S. military services. The Association formed in 1947 and is dedicated to supporting the U.S. Marine Corps as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Council composed of affiliated organizations. The Association's roots trace to the early months of World War II. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, with a lack of news coming out of the Marines' stand on Wake Island, the Marine Corps recognized the need for more news and photography from combat zones and more assistance to civilian news media. Brig. Gen. Robert L. Denig, a highly decorated WWI Marine recalled from retirement, organized and headed the Corps' first Department of Public Relations (DPR). His initial support consisted of 1stSgt. Walter J. "Joe" Shipman and a secretary. Denig petitioned the Commandant and received permission to recruit qualified newsmen from the civilian workforce; Shipman recruited professionals at Washington newspapers with the pitch, "You'll get combat duty and Sergeant stripes if you can successfully complete boot training at Parris Island." Recruiting was so successful that it practically denuded every city room in the capital, prompting a complaint from Times-Herald publisher Cissy Patterson to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which was passed to Major General Commandant Thomas Holcomb, who directed Denig to do future recruiting outside Washington, D.C. An Associated Press story on June 6, 1942 first reported the program. Today the USMCCCA manages and executes major programs as its contribution to the capability and readiness of Marine Corps mass communication. These include the Annual Merit Awards Program, which recognizes professional achievements of active-duty Marines and provides professional seminars to assist active-duty Marines in increasing their expertise as communicators. Merit Awards are presented and seminars conducted annually during the Association's annual conferences held at different locations throughout the country. The Association also presents the Brigadier General Robert L. Denig Distinguished Service Award (DSA), given when warranted to an accomplished civilian communicator for a special and significant contribution to the Corps, and the Donald L. Dickson Memorial Award, presented to a member of the USMCCCA for notable achievement in support of the Association. The Association maintains a website at usmccca.org and an online presence at usmcccaonline.com, publishing news and updates of interest to its members, including coverage of Marine Corps communication events such as changes of command, awards to Marine communicators, and its own governance, including annual elections for its officers and Board of Directors. Membership is limited by eligibility to those who have served as combat correspondents or combat communicators or worked as civilians in related communications fields.

The United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association traces its origins to the early months of World War II. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, with a lack of news coming out of the Marines' heroic stand on Wake Island, the Marine Corps recognized the need to have more news and photography emanating from the combat zones, and more assistance to civilian news media in getting into these combat areas and reporting the actions to the American people. Brig. Gen. Robert L. Denig, a highly decorated WWI Marine, was recalled from retirement to organize and head the Corps' first Department of Public Relations (DPR). His initial support consisted of 1stSgt. Walter J. "Joe" Shipman and a secretary. Denig recognized early on that the Marine Corps simply did not have qualified Marines to send to the Pacific to cover the early battles. He petitioned the Commandant and received permission to recruit qualified newsmen from the civilian workforce. Shipman promptly donned his dress blue uniform and went looking for the pros where they worked – at Washington newspapers. His pitch was: "You'll get combat duty and Sergeant stripes if you can successfully complete boot training at Parris Island." He had plenty of takers with his guarantee of combat. So successful were Shipman's recruiting efforts in Washington that he practically denuded every city room in the capitol. The Times-Herald, as it happened, was hardest hit, causing its vociferous publisher, Cissy Patterson, to complain directly to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The President, in turn, passed the complaint to Major General Commandant Thomas Holcomb, who soon directed General Denig to do his future CC recruiting outside DC. Although recruiting was already well underway, it was not until June 6, 1942, that an Associated Press story first reported the program. The Association itself formed in 1947, after the war, as a not-for-profit fraternal and patriotic organization. It is dedicated to supporting the U.S. Marine Corps as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Council composed of affiliated organizations. Within the stringent limits of eligibility for membership, the Association describes itself as a unique and elite band of active duty and former Marines, seasoned professionals in all aspects of mass communications. As its contribution to the capability and readiness of Marine Corps mass communication, the Association manages and executes various major programs. The Annual Merit Awards Program provides recognition for professional achievements of active-duty Marines and professional seminars to assist active-duty Marines in increasing their expertise as communicators. Merit Awards are presented and seminars conducted annually during the Association's annual conferences held at different locations throughout the country. The Association also has two other presentations: the Brigadier General Robert L. Denig Distinguished Service Award (DSA), given when warranted to an accomplished civilian communicator for a special and significant contribution to the Corps; and the Donald L. Dickson Memorial Award, presented to a member of the USMCCCA for notable achievement in support of the Association. The Association maintains a website at usmccca.org and an online presence at usmcccaonline.com, where it publishes news and updates of interest to its members. Recent items have included coverage of a change of command ceremony for 1st Communication Strategy and Operations Company at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, on Aug. 21, 2026; the opening of voting for FY27 USMCCCA Officers and Board of Directors; and recognition of a Quantico photographer for life-saving actions. The Association continues to serve as the professional home for Marine Corps combat correspondents and combat communicators.

• 1947

  The United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association forms as a not-for-profit fraternal and patriotic organization.

• 1942

  Brig. Gen. Robert L. Denig organizes and heads the Corps' first Department of Public Relations (DPR); recruiting of qualified newsmen begins; an Associated Press story on June 6, 1942 first reports the program.

The only professional organization of its kind in the U.S. military services, dedicated to supporting the U.S. Marine Corps and the community of combat correspondents and combat communicators.

1. 1Home | USMCCCAusmccca.org
2. 2History | USMCCCAusmccca.org
3. 3About | USMCCCAusmccca.org
4. 41st COMMSTRAT Company conducts Change of Command ceremonyusmccca.org
5. 5United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondentswikidata.org