Leftwich Trophy
Encyclopedia
The Leftwich Trophy, also known as the Leftwich Award, is a trophy given for outstanding leadership and is an award presented annually in memory of Lieutenant Colonel William Groom Leftwich
, United States Marine Corps
, who was killed in action in the Republic of Vietnam in November 1970.
Eligible nominees are Marine Captains in the ground combat element
serving on active duty as a company
or battery
commander with the ground forces of the Fleet Marine Force
at the time of nomination. Posthumous awards can be made of this award providing nomination complies with all the criteria for receiving the award. Selection is done by a board of senior officers chaired by the Deputy Commandant of Plans, Policy and Operations
(DC, PP&O), who then after reviewing the applicants, makes recommendation to the Commandant of the Marine Corps
for his final approval.
The trophy is provided to the Marine Corps through an endowment
by the H. Ross Perot
Foundation; Leftwich and Perot were classmates at the United States Naval Academy
. The trophy itself was designed by Felix de Weldon
, designer of the Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
. The Leftwich Trophy, a replica of the statue commemorating the service and leadership of LtCol Leftwich, was first presented in June 1979 at the commissioning ceremony for the .
William G. Leftwich, Jr.
William Groom Leftwich, Jr. was an officer of the United States Marine Corps who served during the Vietnam War. In 1970, he was killed in a helicopter crash during a combat mission in the Vietnam War.-Early life:...
, United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, who was killed in action in the Republic of Vietnam in November 1970.
Eligible nominees are Marine Captains in the ground combat element
Ground combat element
In the United States Marine Corps, the Ground combat element is the land force of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force . It provides power projection and force for the MAGTF.-Role within the MAGTF:...
serving on active duty as a company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
or battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
commander with the ground forces of the Fleet Marine Force
Fleet Marine Force
The United States Fleet Marine Forces are combined general and special purpose forces within the United States Department of the Navy that are designed in engaging offensive amphibious or expeditionary warfare and defensive maritime employment...
at the time of nomination. Posthumous awards can be made of this award providing nomination complies with all the criteria for receiving the award. Selection is done by a board of senior officers chaired by the Deputy Commandant of Plans, Policy and Operations
Headquarters Marine Corps
Headquarters Marine Corps is a headquarters staff within the Department of the Navy which includes the offices of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and various staff functions...
(DC, PP&O), who then after reviewing the applicants, makes recommendation to the Commandant of the Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
for his final approval.
The trophy is provided to the Marine Corps through an endowment
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
by the H. Ross Perot
Ross Perot
Henry Ross Perot is a U.S. businessman best known for running for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. Perot founded Electronic Data Systems in 1962, sold the company to General Motors in 1984, and founded Perot Systems in 1988...
Foundation; Leftwich and Perot were classmates at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. The trophy itself was designed by Felix de Weldon
Felix de Weldon
Felix Weihs de Weldon was an American sculptor. His most famous piece is the Marine Corps War Memorial of five U.S. Marines and one sailor raising the flag of the United States on Iwo Jima during World War Two.-Biography:...
, designer of the Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. The Leftwich Trophy, a replica of the statue commemorating the service and leadership of LtCol Leftwich, was first presented in June 1979 at the commissioning ceremony for the .
Recipients
| Year | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Captain | Clyde S. Brinkley, Jr. |
| 1980 | Captain | Charles R. Sherrill |
| 1981 | Captain | John Caldwell John Caldwell John Caldwell may refer to:* John Caldwell , American cartoonist* John Caldwell , Irish Olympian, bronze medal in 1956 Olympics* John Caldwell , Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, 1804... |
| 1982 | Captain | Dirk R. Ahle |
| 1983 | Captain | Ronald L. King |
| 1984 | Captain | Robert K. Dobson, Jr. |
| 1985 | Captain | Dennis J. Hejlik |
| 1986 | Captain | David W. Mauldin |
| 1987 | Captain | Paul E. Lefebvre Paul E. Lefebvre Major General Paul E. Lefebvre is a Marine Corps officer and the third Commanding General of the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command .-Early life and education:... |
| 1988 | Captain | John R. Allen John R. Allen John R. Allen is a United States Marine Corps four-star general. On 18 July 2011, General Allen assumed command of International Security Assistance Force as Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan , succeeding Army General David Petraeus.-Education:John R. Allen attended The Flint Hill School in... |
| 1989 | Captain | James B. Laster |
| 1990 | Captain | Ronald F. Baczkowski |
| 1991 | Captain | Dennis M. Greene |
| 1992 | Captain | Michael L. Ettore |
| 1993 | Captain | Robert F. Castellvi |
| 1994 | Captain | Steven M. Zotti |
| 1995 | Captain | Jeffery J. Sharrock |
| 1996 | Captain | Jeffery J. Kenney |
| 1997 | Captain | Julian D. Alford |
| 1998 | Captain | Jason Q. Bohm |
| 1999 | Captain | Daniel M. Sullivan |
| 2000 | Captain | Jason L. Morris |
| 2001 | Captain | Michael D. Grice |
| 2002 | Captain | Farrell J. Sullivan |
| 2003 | Captain | Christeon C. Griffin |
| 2004 | Captain | Christopher J. Bronzi |
| 2005 | Captain | John W. Maloney (Deceased) |
| 2006 | Captain | Matthew W. Tracy |
| 2007 | Captain | Jonathan Smith Jonathan Smith Jonathan Smith may refer to:*Jonathan Smith , American professional race car driver*Jonathan Bayard Smith , American merchant, delegate to the Continental Congress... |
| 2008 | Captain | Jonathan Hamilton |
| 2009 | Captain | Christopher S. Conner |