April 29 – May 1, 2025 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center
IRON MIKE & DICKEY CHAPELLE AWARDS
MILITARY ORDER OF THE IRON MIKE
This award was conceived by the Marine Corps League for the purpose of recognizing annually that person who has contributed the most to the United States of America and the United States Marine Corps. Previous award winners include:
The award is named after the landmark statue, Iron Mike, located at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. The bronze rendering depicts a World War I vintage Marine figure familiar to millions who have served as Marines.
| Bob Hope | Lee Marvin |
| John Russel | Larry Burroughs |
| Howard K. Smith | Col Barry Zorthian, USMC |
| H. Ross Perot | John Wayne |
| Donald E. Johnson | John Warner (SECNAV; 1973) |
| Gen Lewis W. Walt, USMC (Ret) | Gen Louis H. Wilson |
| Ed McMahon | CAPT Charles J. Covert, USN (Ret) |
| Sen. Dewey F. Bartlett | Rep. Bob Wilson |
| Amb. Kenneth D. Taylor | James Brady |
| Thomas Delahanty | Timothy McCarthy |
| Philip I. Burman | Sen. Zell Miller |
| Congressman C.W. “Bill” Young | Gen Raymond G. Davis, USMC (Ret) |
| Donald T. Regan | James H. Webb, Jr (SECNAV; 1987) |
| Rep. John P. Murtha | Rep. David O’Brien Martin |
DICKEY CHAPELLE AWARD
This award was conceived by the Marine Corps League for the purpose of recognizing annually a lady who has contributed substantially to the morale, welfare, and well-being of Marines and the United States Marine Corps. Previous award winners include:
| Martha Raye Esther Clark Jeane J. Kilpatrick Col Hazel Benn Sally Ride Maj Robin Higgins Congresswoman Beverly B. Byron Linda Mundy Katie K. Dixon Diane J. Jones Karen Guenther Brenda Nyland Senator Kay Hagan Cathy Lanier Congresswoman Susan Davis Ellyn Dunford Dr Betty Moseley Brown Elizabeth King | Marjorie Merriweather Post Kate Smith Sister Veronica RADM (Amazing) Grace Hopper Lucy Caldwell Susan Braaten Betty Cooper Zandra Meyers Krulak Clara J. Miller Rita McMichael Carol Sefton Linn Ezell Shannon Maxwell Debbie Paxton Congresswoman Niki Tsongas Senator Mazie K. Hirono Senator Tammy Duckworth Maj Jacqueline Barnum |
This award is named to honor the memory of the late Dickey Chapelle, an American foreign correspondent who was killed while covering the actions of Marine infantrymen engaged in combat operations against enemy forces during the Vietnam War.
ENLISTED AWARD RECIPIENTS
- SgtMaj Wilbur Bestwick Award (Ground Combat Element Marine of the Year)
- 2016 – SSgt Jason K. Krumrie
- 2017 – GySgt Joseph Lowery
- 2018 – Sgt Robert A. Dewitt
- 2019 – SSgt Nicholas E. Carney
- 2020 – GySgt Michael Watts
- 2021 – GySgt Josue Coloma
- 2022 – Sgt Ethan Sutherland
- 2023 – GySgt Jack Hausmann
- 2024 – GySgt Samuel J. Mills
- GySgt Carlos N. Hathcock Award (Marksmanship Instructor of the Year)
- 2016 – Sgt Joshua K. Sherman
- 2017 – Sgt Narendra Sookdeo
- 2018 – Sgt Kailub S. Young
- 2019 – SSgt Stephen T. Ferguson
- 2020 – GySgt Nathaniel Baker
- 2021 – GySgt Andrew Hoppe
- 2022 – Sgt Benjamin L. Morrow
- 2023 – SSgt Caleb Neff
- 2024 – SSgt Austin C. Hill
- Sgt Harry D. Myers Award (Logistics Combat Element Marine of the Year)
- 2016 – SSgt Ekhart Kohkemper
- 2018 – Sgt Loggan G. Barley
- 2019 – Cpl Richard Coronelnelson
- 2020 – SSgt Kayla Erianne
- 2021 – Sgt Luis Bocanegra
- 2022 – Sgt Gustavo A. Felixgomez
- 2023 – Sgt Michael Garcia
- 2024 – Sgt Brandon Lopez
- SgtMaj Frederick B. Douglass Award (Aviation Combat Element Marine of the Year)
- 2016 – GySgt Samuel Martinez
- 2017 – Sgt Rafael Almodovarsanabria
- 2018 – SSgt Jamie L. Murray
- 2019 – SSgt Esmerada Ramirez
- 2020 – Sgt Dakota Newbolds
- 2021 – SSgt Bradley Watkins
- 2022 – GySgt Michael A. Creamer Jr.
- 2023 – Sgt Andre Doss
- 2024 – GySgt Dillon W. Ellis
- HMC George William “Doc” Piercy Award (Corpsman of the Year)
- 2016 – HM2 Dave P. Dominguez
- 2017 – HM1 Brett A. Boland
- 2018 – HM1 John E Cantu
- 2019 – HM2 Daniel Matheney
- 2020 – HM1 Michael Bryson
- 2021 – HM1 Steven J. McKinley II
- 2022 – HM1 Timothy L. Moore
- 2023 – HM1 Raymonddave Soriano
- 2024 – HM1 Patrick M. Shea
- Marine Corps Reservist of the Year
- 2016 – GSgt Garrett A. Czesak
- 2017 – SSgt Edward Cucina
- 2018 – SSgt Julio Pinto
- 2020 – SSgt Devin Birk
- 2021 – SSgt Christopher Sutton
- 2022 – GySgt Sean R. Lesson
- 2023 – GySgt Daniel Porter
- 2024 – GySgt Joshua Y. Kelly
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem and the name Marine Corps® are registered trademarks of the USMC. The Marine Corps League supports the USMC and its veterans; however it is not officially connected to or endorsed by the USMC, and the name and emblem are used with permission.