Spouse Wins Marine Corps Community Services 2025 Trip to France Giveaway, Surprises Marine Husband in Hawaii
HQMC (MR) QUANTICO, VA – Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) is proud to announce the winner of the 2025 MCCS Trip to France Giveaway Contest sponsored by USAA: Mrs. Katie M., a Marine spouse based in Hawaii. Selected from more than 23,000 entries, Katie surprised her husband, Major Patrick M., a Marine Corps officer stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, with the news during a heartwarming reveal at the Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on December 16.
The couple first learned about the contest through a mailer. “We got an MCX ad in the mail,” recalled Patrick. “I just saw the QR code on the back and I was like, ‘Going to France sounds awesome, we should enter this for sure.’ I entered and then forced [Katie] to enter – and she was the one that won. So that paid off.”
Katie worked closely with MCCS Hawaii to orchestrate the surprise reveal. “I’m so thankful to both MCCS and USAA for the opportunity to go to France!” she said. “France has been on my bucket list for a while now. It will be an awesome experience to visit all these important historical locations. I can’t wait.”
Katie and Patrick will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime 10-day journey to France, exploring the historic landscapes of Normandy, Paris, and Belleau Wood – a site forever etched into the legacy of the Marine Corps. This unforgettable experience includes round-trip flights, hotel accommodations, guided excursions, and visits to sacred battlefields where Marines demonstrated extraordinary valor.
For Patrick, the trip carries deep personal and professional meaning. “It’s very unique. Coming into the Marine Corps, you hear about these locations and how important they are to our heritage and our history,” he said. “Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be going on a guided tour of something like this. We talk about these places every single year at the Marine Corps Ball.”
Katie and Patrick recently relocated from Okinawa to Hawaii and welcomed a new baby just a few months ago. While they haven’t had time to explore all of MCCS Hawaii’s offerings, they’ve long relied on MCCS programs to stay connected. “It’s just nice having an extra resource that you can tap into and utilize,” said Patrick. “Especially when in Okinawa, we were so far from family and friends.” Katie added, “[MCCS] gave us a taste of home.”
George Williams, Director of MCCS Hawaii, shared his excitement about the local connection. “I was very pleased to hear that, out of the tens of thousands of entries for this contest, a Marine spouse from Hawaii was the winner,” he said. “And I think it’s wonderful that she asked her local MCCS to assist with surprising her husband with the good news.”
Williams emphasized how initiatives like this reinforce MCCS’s mission. “To me, this reinforces why MCCS exists and why we provide the quality programs, products, and services that we do – to directly support Marines, Sailors, and their families, with the vision of being their ‘Ally for Life.’”
“This trip is more than a reward – it honors the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday by connecting our community to one of the most storied chapters in our history,” said Ed Cutshall, Chief Executive Officer/Director of Business and Support Services Division, MCCS. “At MCCS, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to engage and provide for our Marines and their families, and we are proud to partner with USAA to offer this meaningful experience to our community.”
The trip’s itinerary includes guided tours of World War I and II landmarks, including the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and the hallowed grounds of Belleau Wood, where Marines earned the nickname “Teufel Hunden,” or Devil Dogs, for their fierce bravery in 1918. The journey also features cultural excursions in Paris and a solemn visit to the beaches of Normandy, honoring the shared sacrifices of American and Allied forces.
“At USAA, we are honored to support initiatives that celebrate the legacy and resilience of the Marine Corps community,” said a Paul McKenna, U.S. Marine Corps Relationship Director, USAA. “Every Marine knows the significance of Belleau Wood. To stand on that ground is a lifelong aspiration, and this opportunity is a powerful tribute to the Marine spirit.”
MCCS remains committed to supporting Marines and their families through programs that foster connection, resilience, and recognition. From quality-of-life services to morale-boosting experiences like this contest, MCCS continues to invest in the people who serve and the loved ones who stand beside them.
Stay tuned as MCCS plans to share updates from Patrick’s and Katie’s journey through France – a journey that honors the past, celebrates the present, and inspires the future.
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About MCCS
Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) provides quality programs, services, and support that contribute to the readiness and retention of Marines and their families stationed around the world. Based in Quantico, VA, MCCS works to enhance mission effectiveness by delivering essential services across education, family readiness, technology, and personal development.
Learn more at www.usmc-mccs.org
