USO Honors Coast Guardsman of the Year with Local Leadership in Maui

Since 2003, the USO has partnered with America’s Armed Forces to honor a man or woman from each branch for an act of valor. The USO Service Members of the Year are nominated and honored each year for their heroic and selfless acts. Ranging from helping fellow service members’ lives to joining a search and rescue team, these individuals showcased bravery and compassion that saved the lives of individuals. For Boatswain Mate 2nd Class Joshua Marzilli, it was multiple lives while battling high-intensity winds, high sea levels and low visibility during a raging fire.

It was a late night on August 8, 2023, when Joshua and his crew answered a SOS call to rescue individuals whose town was being ravaged by the Lahaina wildfire. The four-member Station Maui Response Boat-Medium (RBM) team set out in less-than-ideal weather – over 30 mph winds, two-to-three-foot sea levels and less than 10 feet of visibility along the shoreline. All this in addition to the raging fire set the scene for a terrifying situation. Once his team spotted individuals who needed assistance, Joshua became determined to find a way to them. After an unsuccessful swim to the shore, a nearby commercial ship assisted Joshua by deploying an inflatable boat along with an off-duty lifeguard. Together, they were able to reach the shore and rescue two children. On his second trip back to the shore, Joshua began assisting the Maui Fire Department by carrying survivors that could not walk through the debris. Additional survivors were rescued by the RBM as they continued to search the Lahaina Harbor. His life-saving actions that evening reflect the Coast Guard’s core values of honor, respect and duty, leading to his selection as the USO’s Coast Guardsman of the Year.

On Friday, October 18 in Maui, Hawaii, Joshua was joined by the USO Hawaii team, other Maui Wildfire Responders, former unit leadership and friends and family in a special celebration. He was previously honored along with the respective service members of the year at a gala earlier this year. However, the local celebrations allow for a more meaningful moment. Joshua has sense moved to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, fulfilling a new set of orders and missions, but he chose to return to Maui for this special ceremony.

“I wanted the base celebration to be held on Maui because I hope this event will focus more on the unit than on me. While I’m proud of what I accomplished, none of it would have been possible without the team at Station Maui. I had my moment at the USO Gala in D.C., which was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” expressed Joshua. “This celebration should be about all the members of Station Maui. We were close before but grew into a family following the Lahaina Fire. I’m especially glad we can host this event before more members leave during the upcoming transfer season.”

During the ceremony, USO Hawaii Area Director Juliet Bucayu-Domingo presented Joshua with a coin holder on behalf of the USO and the USO’s Coast Guardsman of the Year Citation.

“We were honored to recognize BM2 Joshua Marzilli as USO Coast Guardsman of the Year. The Lahaina (Maui) fires were devastating to our local community, and BM2 demonstrated bravery and selflessness,” expressed Juliet. “His actions embody the values of the USO, and I was proud to present him with this recognition.”

In the same ceremony, Joshua was part of the team recognized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Honours for Exceptional Bravery at Sea. The IMO is an agency of the United Nations that is responsible for maritime safety, trade and environment performance. Joshua’s bravery during the fires, along with seven other individuals, was honored by the organization for contributing to the safety and survival of many lives.

Through ceremonies such as this one and at the gala earlier in the year, the USO is able to share stories of service in hopes that it builds a greater appreciation for those who serve among all Americans.

“This is an incredible honor that I never expected and has been the highlight of my career so far. I’m grateful for this amazing experience,” expressed Joshua. “I’d like to thank the USO and the wonderful liaisons I had the pleasure of working with, Christianna and Paige, my girlfriend Katie and, of course, the Station Maui family and all the first responders who were there in Lahaina on August 8th.”