Capt. Joe Raymond, commander of Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound in Seattle, gives a speech recognizing members of the Broselle family during an award ceremony at Coast Guard Station Bellingham, July 5, 2016.
Tom R. Broselle was awarded the Silver Life Saving Medal, and Jacob Broselle and Thomas M. Broselle were awarded the Meritorious Public Service Award for their rescue of five mariners in distress off Cherry Point on Aug. 28, 2015.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ali Flockerzi
The Coast Guard awarded the Silver Life Saving Medal to Tom R. Broselle, and the Meritorious Public Service Award to Jacob Broselle and Thomas M. Broselle in a ceremony held at Coast Guard Station Bellingham, Wash., July 5, 2016.
The trio was commended for their heroic efforts that saved five lives off of Cherry Point in Bellingham, Wash., Aug. 28, 2015.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ali Flockerzi
Capt. Joe Raymond, commander of Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound in Seattle, shakes hands with Jacob Broselle during an award ceremony held at Coast Guard Station Bellingham, July 5, 2016.
The ceremony was held in recognition of the Broselle family members, who saved the five lives of another family after their boat capsized more than 500 yards from the Cherry Point shore last August.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ali Flockerzi
Friends and family applaud Tom, Jacob and Thomas Broselle during a ceremony to recognize the trio for their heroic deeds that was held at Coast Guard Station Bellingham, Wash., July 5, 2016.
The Broselle family rescued five mariners in distress off Cherry Point on Aug. 28, 2015, after their vessel capsized in rough water.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ali Flockerzi
SEATTLE – The Coast Guard awarded the Silver Life Saving Medal to Tom R. Broselle, and the Meritorious Public Service Award to Jacob Broselle and Thomas M. Broselle, during a presentation held at Coast Guard Station Bellingham, Tuesday.
They were awarded for their heroic efforts on Aug. 28, 2015, where the Broselle family, while checking crab pots off Cherry Point on the stormy afternoon, found five people in the water next to a capsized pleasure craft and immediately rendered assistance to the distressed boaters.
Kristen Pietig, her brother, 12, daughter, 9, and father, Michael Peterson, 73, clung to the side of their 13-foot dingy. Kristen’s second daughter, Ashley, 6, was stuck underneath the boat.
Coming alongside the capsized boat, Thomas, 12, and his brother, Jacob, 14, grabbed hold of the vessel to maintain stability while their father dove into the water, locating and freeing Ashley from ropes that were tangled around her chest and legs.
The three of them systematically and calmly removed all four of the remaining subjects from the water.
Once safely aboard the Broselle’s 21-foot boat, they went to shore where local paramedics were waiting. Peterson was taken to the hospital and treated for aspiration pneumonia. The others had no significant injuries.
“The Silver Life Saving award is not given out lightly and we are honored and pleased to recognize this family with such a prestigious award,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Hagen, chief of the Incident Management Division at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. “We’re very fortunate we have people like the Broselle family out there keeping a wide eye open on the water.”
With the immense bravery and selfless actions these three displayed, five lives were saved.
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