HONOLULU -- Service members joined family and local community members for the USO Hawaii Six Star Service Salute to honor personnel from each branch of the military aboard the Star of Honolulu cruise ship, Nov. 2, 2013.
The USO Service Salute, a 70-year tradition, recognizes service members for their outstanding performance and commitment to duty.
Selected by their senior enlisted leaders, this year’s awardees were Spc. William Tosie, of 8th Special Troop Battalion; Marine Cpl. Matthew Noah, of 3rd Marine Regiment; Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicole Woodall, of Pacific Command Joint Intelligence Operation Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam; Senior Airman William Bradford, of the 15th Wing, JBPHH; Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Erich Klingner, of Engineering Division, Air Station Barbers Point; and Hawaii National Guardsman Sgt. Andrea Faoa of 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Noah won the 3rd Marine Regiment’s Marine of the Quarter and 3rd Marine Division’s Marine of the Quarter. He is also in the running for the Marine Corps Marine of the Year.
“I would just encourage Marines to always do the right thing even when no one is looking,” Noah said. “I don’t think I’m any better than any other Marine. I just do what I’m supposed to every day.”
Among the visitors at the Service Salute, Noah’s chain of command was present to congratulate him on his USO Hawaii Marine of the Year accomplishment.
“I’m not surprised he is getting this kind of recognition,” said Marine Master Sgt. Kevin Stansel, the regimental administration chief for 3rd Marine Regiment. “Obviously he’s a corporal, but works hard like a sergeant. He is the kind of Marine you want working for you.”
The USO also honored its Volunteer of the Year, Sherman Adams, a retired Air Force master sergeant of 24 years. He verified more than $33,134 in food donations to keep the center stocked. More than 20,000 people benefited from 2,500 hours of service he provided to them.
The event started out with the presentation of the colors by the Punahou Color Guard. The USO Show Troupe, Senior Airman Devin Rivs-Martin and Band of the Pacific-Hawaii played the national anthem and Hawaii Ponoi. Each branch’s song or hymn was performed before each awardee was introduced.
Everyone boarded the Star of Honolulu and listened to several military leaders and members of USO-supported families speak. After a toast to the USO and the awardees, guests partook in a four-course meal. The meal featured a Hawaiian greens salad, a steamed 1-pound whole Maine lobster, a fire roasted tenderloin steak and a Hawaiian mango mousse cake. After the meal, all awardees were summoned to the front to receive their awards.
“It’s easy to see why everyone likes the USO so much,” Noah said. “Besides everything they do for military throughout the world, events like tonight just put the icing on the cake. I’m grateful for everything they do for us and just want to thank them.”