Nathan Bruckenthal

Bruckenthal and Petty Officer Third Class Joseph T. Ruggiero.

Bruckenthal joined the U.S. Coast Guard on January 5, 1999. He served on USCGC Point Wells, based out of Montauk, New York, prior to attending Damage Controlman "A" School.[4] After his schooling, he was assigned to Station Neah Bay in the northwest corner of Washington on the Makah Indian Reservation.[2]

His next assignment was to Tactical Law Enforcement (TACLET) Team South, at Coast Guard Air Station Miami. Bruckenthal's first tour to the Persian Gulf region was from April to June 2003. He departed home for his second deployment in February 2004 and was due to return that June. During both tours his detachment, LEDET 403, was assigned to the USS Firebolt.[3][4]

On his first deployment to the Persian Gulf region, Bruckenthal was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Boonie hats inscribed with messages of consolation are displayed during a memorial service to Bruckenthal, Christopher E. Watts, and Michael J. Pernaselli in April 2004.

Nathan Bruckenthal on duty in Iraq.

Pallbearers carry Bruckenthal's casket during his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery in May 2004.

On April 24, 2004, Bruckenthal and two U.S. Navy sailors were killed while intercepting a waterborne suicide attack on the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal off the coast of Iraq in the northern Persian Gulf.[3]

An account of the attack was included the May 2004 issue of U.S. Coast Guard Reservist magazine:[5]

In the early evening hours of April 24, a dhow (a lateen-rigged Arabian vessel) approached an oil terminal in the Persian Gulf. Bruckenthal, trained as both a boarding team member and boarding officer, was accompanied by one other Coast Guardsman and five sailors from the United States Navy. The group boarded a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), taking off in pursuit. As the crew was poised to board the dhow, an explosion was detonated. Two Navy petty officers also died as a result of the waterborne attack: PO1 Michael J. Pernaselli, 27, of Monroe, N.Y., and PO2 Christopher E. Watts, 28, of Knoxville, Tenn. Injured were three Navy sailors and BM3 Joseph T. Ruggiero, USCG, 23, from Revere, Mass., who received the Purple Heart.

Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi of al-Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack.[6]

Bruckenthal was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device and the Purple Heart, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[7]