“The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat 'V' (Posthumously) to Damage Controlman Third Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, United States Coast Guard, for heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy while serving as Boarding Officer with U.S.S. FIREBOLT (PC-10).”
This citation from President George W. Bush, recognized the heroic Coast Guard efforts of Nathan B. “Nate” Bruckenthal. A little over 20 years ago, this local boy, who looked like the “all-american” kid was killed defending the United States during the War on Terror in Iraq. Nate was born on July 17th, 1979, and for several of his younger years, he grew up Stony Brook. With his mom, Nate lived in a military family, and he moved to different bases in Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Nate enjoyed playing football, serving as a volunteer firefighter, and was a member of the Navy Junior ROTC in Virginia at Herndon High School. Returning to Long Island, Nate joined the Coast Guard in 1998, where he was first stationed in Montauk, NY. While he expected to become a police officer like his father or a firefighter, Nate thrived in the Coast Guard through different jobs and deployments.
Serving on the Coast Guard Cutter Point Wells that operated out of Montauk, Nate went out on the high seas off the Atlantic Ocean. He was awarded the Pistol and Rifle Marksman Ribbon’s and was given a Unit Commendation Award. Nate later trained in Yorktown, Virginia, as a damage controlman, who was responsible for repairing different parts of a Coast Guard ship. Handling this new position, Nate was ordered to one of the furthest western points
of the United States at Neah Bay, Washington. Nate had a good experience in this part of the nation, as he met his future wife Patricia who was attending college to become a social worker. Always staying busy, Nate was a volunteer police officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, spent time on the Makah Native American Reservation, and was an assistant football coach. Before enlisting, Nate was slender, but in the Coast Guard, he constantly worked out and gained extensive muscle. Nate conducted search and rescue operations in the Pacific Ocean and received the Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon.
Changing his job, Nate was ordered to North Miami to train
as a Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET). This strenuous occupation represents the Special Forces part of the Coast Guard that is utilized to carry out dangerous missions. He was instructed
at TACLET South and gained valuable experience to carry out these challenging responsibilities. Handling this hazardous position, Nate boarded foreign vessels to search for illegal drugs and to prevent illegal immigration from entering America. Through both Homeland Security and the Coast Guard, Nate was taught how to protect important ports and waterways to ensure that they were not terrorist targets. This former resident of Stony Brook was amongst the military elite in the Coast Guard to carry out this daunting job.
By 2003, Nate re-enlisted and was deployed to Kuwait determined to enforce this maritime job by working with
foreign navies that spanned from New Zealand to Poland. As Iraqi Freedom began on March 20th, 2003, he was on the USS Firebolt, where this crew was notified that tugboats in Southern Iraq that was near Kuwait sent a distress call. Watching the first American and coalition naval forces fire missiles against the Iraqi military, Nate carried out one of the first missions of this war. The USS Firebolt boarded these tugboats that held weapons and mines that were going to be used to deter foreign shipping from entering this part of Iraq.
Ordered to Basra, Iraq, Nate helped protect this key shipping area and port for petroleum that was being exported by the Iraqi government. Oil was one of the few products that this war-torn nation was able to sell, and the United States military command wanted to ensure that these international shipping lanes and terminals were not disrupted. Nate and his TACLET members
were sent towards Basra to carry out essential security measures at the port of Um Qasar. At the start of this war, this was a difficult job, as these Coast Guard members boarded ships, ensured that vessels took the correct routes, guarded against insurgents placing mines in the waters, and maintained maritime security on the waterways.
Going home for Christmas in 2003, Nate was newly married to Patricia, and as they were in the early stages of a pregnancy, he volunteered for a second tour in Iraq. His experiences were needed at this escalated time of fighting, especially within these Iraqi waters. Nate was a valuable source who was expected to train future TACLET crews to conduct these missions. At home, Nate spoke to his father about the harsh experiences that he endured during this war. Nate feared for his own life through the instability of his job that became increasingly unpredictable and dangerous in Iraq.
Returning for his second tour, Nate trained new TACLET crews to ensure that they were ready for this daunting job. These maritime units maneuvered in a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) and outside of carrying small arms, they had no major weapons to protect themselves from direct military threats. With his fellow TACLET members, they intercepted a vessel that was a suicide bomber that hit Nate’s boat. Right away, their RHIB was destroyed, the men were wounded and thrown into the water. Two naval men were killed from this assault, as Nate was seriously wounded and sent to Bahrain, where he died from this terrorist attack on April 24th, 2004.
His father, Eric Bruckenthal, was notified about this terrorist assault by a Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander who informed him of Nate’s death. It was discovered that Nate and his crew put themselves in harm's
way to halt this insurgent threat that would have destroyed other military and shipping vessels and killed personnel. Eric appreciated the way this officer handled the tragic report that was presented to him on the death of his son in Iraq and to this day they remain close friends. Always demonstrating leadership through the dangerous complexities of this job, Nate was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with a “V” for valor by the military.
Since the Vietnam War, Nate was the only member of the Coast Guard to have lost his life in combat during a time of war. The Coast Guard was created in 1790, and it has a distinguished military record, where Nate’s name will always be remembered for his selfless duty to protect others. As this is a “Gold Star” family, the Bruckenthals help counsel other American families who have lost loved ones from combat. Understanding this heartache, it is their goal to help grieving families, make it “from one day to the next.”
Whereas he died before he met his daughter Harper Natalie, his memory still exists through this young lady who is 20 years old and living in Sweden with her mother. Nate was a local boy from Stony Brook who represents the very best of this nation. Although he lost his life during the earliest parts of the War on Terror, his Coast Guard name and presence will always be remembered. There are several Coast Guard reminders of this special military figure, as the barracks at Station Montauk were renamed Bruckenthal Hall, there is a non-profit, Nate’s Baby Pantry & Exchange, that helps assists military families and civilians in Baltimore, and the TACLET South facility was placed in Nate’s name. Nate B. Bruckenthal’s heroic efforts often carried out this complex job to protect American and Allied maritime interests during the height of the fighting in Iraq.