Memorial Day is a day set aside for commemorating military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. There are other days to commemorate those currently serving and those who have served.
Nathan Bruckenthal was born 17 July 1979, and grew up in Stony Brook, New York. Bruckenthal joined the United States Coast Guard 05 January 1999, and attended Damage Controlman A School. Petty Officer Bruckenthal’s first tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom was April to June 2003, assigned to United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 403 aboard the USS Firebolt. Petty Officer Bruckenthal departed for his second tour in support of OIF February 2004, again joining LEDET 403 aboard the USS Firebolt.
The USS Firebolt was operating in the Northern Arabian Gulf in the vicinity of two Iraqi Oil Terminals, ABOT and KAAOT in company with His Majesty’s Australian Ship Stuart. Their mission was to protect the oil terminals from attack by insurgents.
On 24 April 2004, a dhow approached KAAOT. Two Coast Guardsmen and five US Navy sailors boarded a rigid hull inflatable boat and proceeded to intercept the dhow. As the RHIB made contact with the dhow Petty Officer Bruckenthal, and two Navy Petty Officers prepared to board. The dhow operator detonated the explosives on board killing Petty Officer Bruckenthal and the two Navy sailors. The blast also wounded four others on board the RHIB.
HMAS Stuart rendered aid to the wounded and recovered the dead. Those who served aboard the USS Firebolt and HMAS Stuart at the time continue to commemorate this incident every year, remembering those who gave their lives.
Damage Controlman Third Class Bruckenthal was the first Coast Guardsman to die in combat since the Vietnam war. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
History remembers the names of the Generals and Officers. It is us, the enlisted who remember the names of those fought and died in the battles.