Who Was This BrigGen. Robert L. Denig Sr.?

Denig's Demons Go To War: Four of the first Marine combat correspondents are shown in the war zone. From left: Sgt. Al Monteverde, SSgt. Sam Stavisky, SSgt. Jerry O'Leary, and Sgt. Bob Brenner. These men carried both rifle and typewriter. Sgt. Monteverde, a photographer was killed in action. The remaining three would survive the war and come back to newspaper jobs in Washington. All are now deceased.

“Where in Hell Do We Put Them?”

Line infantrymen were completely puzzled with these particular Marines. “Where the hell do we put them?” “What can they do for us?” or “Doesn’t HQMC realize we’re fighting a war?” “Hell, they’ll only get in the way!”

Fortunately, this attitude didn’t last long and soon one heard: “Where are our combat correspondents?” “What’s the delay? Get them here!” General Denig and staff got much satisfaction from this change in attitudes.

Back at the Navy Annex, then HQMC, Jerry O’Leary wrote of the daily schedules they endured until final assignment. He spoke of the lectures in censorship, security regs and, in general, what they could and could not do.

General Denig’s instructions were brief and to the point. “Give most of your time and attention to the enlisted man – what he says, thinks and does. Tell the human interest side of the Marine Corps. If Private Bill Jones of Cumberland Gap wins the boxing championship of his unit, tell the people of Cumberland Gap about it.”

If you have not yet contributed to the Denig Memorial Fund, we encourage you to do so by using this link or by contacting CCHQ at usmccca@cfl.rr.com or by calling 352.748.4698.