A Commitment To Excellence, Legacy Of Impact
by U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Gabrielle Zagorski
February 17, 2025

The Marine Corps was built on a foundation of leadership, the intangible quality that inspires and motivates Marines to become better each day. Leadership requires qualities like judgment, integrity, honesty, decisiveness, and a commitment to excellence in all endeavors. While every Marine strives for excellence, only a select few stand out and earn recognition.

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Troy J. Garza, a communication strategy and operations officer at I Marine Expeditionary Force, and native of Harlingen, Texas, received the Marine Corps Association 1st Lt. Shaun M. Blue Trophy at the 2025 MCA West Coast Dinner on January 30, 2025. Lt. Gen. Michael S. Cederholm, commanding general of I MEF, alongside Sgt. Maj. Peter Siaw, senior enlisted advisor of I MEF, and MCA leadership, presented Garza the "Heisman Size" trophy in the likeness of Blue.

The leadership trophy is an annual award honoring Blue, who exemplified qualities of leadership, patriotism and selflessness in his service. He was killed in action on April 16, 2007 while leading his Marines in Anbar Province, Iraq and posthumously received the Bronze Star for his heroic actions.

“1st Lt. Shaun Blue’s legacy to me represents unwavering determination, and integrity,” said Garza. “The fact that the award reflects a lieutenant’s commitment to embodying the highest standards of Marine Corps leadership means the world to me and will remind me of the leader I strive to be.”

Established in late 2021 by the MCA in collaboration with The Basic School, the award honors a lieutenant who best represents the Marine Corps core values of honor, courage and commitment. Each year, students at The Basic School nominate the peer whom they would most want to go to combat with to receive the award.

As a commissioned officer, Garza draws on leadership fundamentals from his 13 years of enlisted service. Having served as a squad and unit leader across three deployments, he lived each day focused on developing his Marines into a highly skilled, combat-ready team. He seized every opportunity to understand his Marines—learning where they came from, their families, and their priorities. Above all, he mentored and developed his Marines into better individuals.

Garza understood that the right to wear the Eagle, Globe and Anchor requires continual growth in character and abilities. Inspired by great commissioned officers, including his first platoon commander, 1st Lt. Donnelly who was killed in action on his first deployment, his second platoon commander, 1st Lt. Broun, and his battalion commander, Lt. Col. Morris, he sought greater influence and responsibility in shaping Marines, along with more accountability for mission success. Ready for the next challenge, Garza followed in the footsteps of the great leaders before him and earned a commission as a second lieutenant.

Upon reporting to The Basic School, Garza sustained the transformation by demonstrating exemplary professionalism, strong leadership, selflessness and a steadfast work ethic. His superior character earned him the 1st Lt Shaun M. Blue Award for Alpha Company, Basic Officer Course 1-23, distinguishing himself among 284 peers and finishing in the top 5% of his class. Garza’s motivation and dedication to duty reflected great credit on himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

“Receiving the Shaun M. Blue Leadership Trophy gives me a sense of pride and honor,” states Garza. “This award not only honors the memory of Blue, but I hope it also inspires the Marines around me to continue leading with selflessness and upholding the traditions of the Marine Corps.”

Blue’s legacy bears witness to the onus every Marine carries to enhance the legacy of the Corps with their deeds. Garza, like the thousands of Marines that came before him and thousands that will come after, carries this onus every day in his willingness to be a leader for his unit, his family, and the American people he serves.

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