Daniel M. Sullivan, Saint Anthony's High School Class of '85, recently received The United States Marine Corps Leftwich Award. This award was presented to Major Sullivan for demonstrating outstanding leadership. The Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership in Combat Arms was presented to Major Daniel M. Sullivan on August 18th by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James L. Jones. Major Sullivan received this award as a Captain, assuming leadership roles of the company commander for Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division in Camp Lejune, NC. During 1999, he and his company were part of a security operation in Albania and Kosovo. He was frocked to his current rank on June 1 and is currently working at the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab in Quantico, VA.
The Leftwich Trophy, which bears the name of Vietnam Navy Cross recipient Lt. Col. William G. Leftwich, was awarded to Major Sullivan prior to the Barracks' Evening Parade. At time of the presentation, Major Sullivan said, "The people I thank most for this award are my subordinates who are really the ones who have made me look good."
Attending the ceremony at 8th and I Barracks in Washington DC were Dan's family, wife, Mary Sullivan and children, Connor, Katherine and Annie. Also present was Dan's Mom, Ms. Suzanne Sullivan, well known to Saint Anthony's as the ever- faithful school nurse. Dan's siblings including brothers Captain Farrell Sullivan, USMC, 2Lt Brendan Sullivan, USMC and sister, 1Lt. Mary Kate Sullivan-Bailey, USMC were on hand to see their brother receive the Leftwich Award. (Of note, Farrell, Brendan and Mary Kate are also Saint Anthony's HS graduates, in the classes of '89, '93 and '95 respectively).
Of interest, Dan started at Saint Anthony's High School at the Smithtown Campus and was in the first graduating class of the then "new" Saint Anthony's in South Huntington. After Dan's graduation from Saint Anthony's HS he attended Auburn University in Alabama, having received an NROTC Scholarship with Marine Corps Option. Dan often talks of his four years at Saint Anthony's High School and his gratitude to the Franciscan Brothers for providing him with a sound education as well as reinforcing his strong Christian values which have served him well during his Marine Corps career.
