Fox News Reports One USCG serviceman among the KIA in Al Basra Oil Terminal attack

FoxNews Channel

[OneLoyalAmerican]

FoxNews reporting that a USCG member was among the KIA in Al Basra Oil Terminal attack.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

First USCG combat death since Viet Nam.

[larryjohnson]

Tonk, thank you for keeping me informed. I toured the SE coast from TX and back home last month so have been easing back into FR. The Coast Guard is so important to us. I see some Guard in my gym keeping fit to do their duty to Maine and Country. This am a very orange prop plane circled my cove and went over my house at about 200 ft. Would that have to have been USCG or can others fly orange?

[Wneighbor]

Ping. I did not even know that the Coast Guard would be over there! I thought you guys stayed close to home.

[Imal]

That's a long way from our coast for a Coastie to die.

Approaching one of those suicide boats to board it takes courage I will never dream of having.

When I first heard about this, my first thought was "who the hell would be crazy enough to try boarding a boat loaded with explosives and would-be martyrs?" and "what were they thinking?".

No doubt what they were thinking was that the crew and materials on one of these boats might lead us to their origin, and make it possible to prevent future attacks.

I am certain that this sailor, along with all the others on the team, knew exactly what they were getting into. And they did it anyway.

That is the sort of valor and gallantry that Congress should take note of.

A crisp salute to this sailor and his fallen shipmates for service to our nation beyond any call of duty. And tears at the continuing loss of some of the bravest and finest people our nation can produce.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Third U.S. death in raid on oil terminals

A third U.S. service member died after attacks on Iraqi oil terminals in the gulf off Basra, the Navy said Sunday. The Coast Guardsman died of wounds he received in the Saturday night attack, in which two sailors also were killed.

The U.S. Navy said the service members died when they were dispatched to board a suspicious vessel -- a small boat known as a dhow -- that approached the Khawr Al Amaya oil terminal.

Lt. Cmdr. Lisa Brackenbury, a Navy spokeswoman in Bahrain, said the vessel blew up as the boarding party approached.

17 posted on 04/25/2004 1:26:46 PM EDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

 

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Heavenly Father, we return to give You thanks that the finest young men and women have gone forth from this country in the cause of liberty and freedom. You have blessed this nation as no other, and we praise You that these sons and daughters are Your greatest blessing. Watch over them where they are ... grant them success in their missions, for they seek to liberate and not to enslave. Equip them with the greatest courage, yet with the most tender of hearts, that others might be drawn to their resolve and their compassion. Return them safely to their families, we pray ... yet we know that some will return to You before they again see their families. Mark this grief upon our hearts, that we never forget that liberty is etched in blood. In the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen ...

 by Pegita ('Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word ...)

~  ~ 

Third U.S. death in raid on oil terminals

A third U.S. service member died after attacks on Iraqi oil terminals in the gulf off Basra, the Navy said Sunday. The Coast Guardsman died of wounds he received in the Saturday night attack, in which two sailors also were killed.

The U.S. Navy said the service members died when they were dispatched to board a suspicious vessel -- a small boat known as a dhow -- that approached the Khawr Al Amaya oil terminal.

Lt. Cmdr. Lisa Brackenbury, a Navy spokeswoman in Bahrain, said the vessel blew up as the boarding party approached.

Heavenly Father, we return to give You thanks that the finest young men and women have gone forth from this country in the cause of liberty and freedom. You have blessed this nation as no other, and we praise You that these sons and daughters are Your greatest blessing. Watch over them where they are ... grant them success in their missions, for they seek to liberate and not to enslave. Equip them with the greatest courage, yet with the most tender of hearts, that others might be drawn to their resolve and their compassion. Return them safely to their families, we pray ... yet we know that some will return to You before they again see their families. Mark this grief upon our hearts, that we never forget that liberty is etched in blood. In the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen ...

[Bobby777]

the freighter is the "BBC Spain"?

[MEG33]

These brave souls prevented a major catastrophe.I honor and am grateful for their service and their sacrifice.May God comfort their loved ones.

[pbear8]

Sempre Paratus

We're always ready for the call!
We place our trust in Thee
Through howling gale and shot and shell
To win our victory!
"Sempre Paratus" is our guide
Our pledge, our motto too.
We're 'always ready', do or die
Aye, Coast Guard, we fight for you.

Eternal Father, Strong to Save (Coast Guard verse)

Eternal Father, Lord of Hosts,
Watch o'er the men who guard our coasts.
Protect them from the raging sea
And give them light and life and peace
Grant them from Thy Great Throne above
The shield and shelter of Thy Love.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Since 9/11, the potential exists at home too. Every boarded boat has potential risk for the boarding team.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Baghdad, Iraq - A third American has died as a result of a suicide attack on Iraqi oil facilities.

A Coast Guardsman died today and two Navy sailors were killed yesterday in the boat attacks off the Iraqi coast. The Coast Guardsman was part of a team sent to intercept a boat near an oil terminal. When the team approached, the boat exploded.

[sargunner]

Tonk,

During my tour in 67/68 in Nam as a zoomie SAR chopper crewmember I got to know a Coastie pilot named Jack Rittichier(sp?). His middle name was Columbus (you can imagine the grief he took over that one). At the time the AF could not provide enough pilots to keep the pipeline primed due to the high-than-expected casualty rate(the Anal Force called it an exchange program). He was in a sister squadron and therefore I never flew with him. He took all the well-meaning inter-service grief with grace. He was a hell of a pilot. He and his crew bought it in June 68 attempting a snatch that involved numerous attempts to extract a downed flyer who was on the move due to pursuing hostile forces. He was a good guy and a credit ot his service.

[Kathy in Alaska]

RIP Sailors

RIP Coastie

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Some people just don't understand that Coast Guard
personnel continually risk their lives in war and peace.
And every war, they participate.

Welcome Home Brother

[CedarDave]

Yes, and we were in Viet Nam too. I served as XO on a patrol boat for just two weeks short of a year during the Tet offensive. The Swift boats of JF*nK fame were tied up next to us at our base in Vung Tau.

[Wneighbor]

Thank you for the reply. And thank you for your service. I learned something new today and have added my prayers in for this guy's family.

[Irelamb]

I saw this on the news last night. Although they didn't report that is was a Coastie, I knew that if a boarding was involved in a Port Security Operation it was probably one ours. Hope they change the change the ROE, fire first, ask questions later and keep em safe

[dandelion]

God bless this faithful Coastie and his family - this is a sad surprise.

We lift them up in prayer...

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Not sure yet if this Coastie was from the PSU or TACLET sie of the house.

[Patriot Hooligan]

They all hurt, all these losses hurt. I also served in the United States Coast Guard. Killing isn't exactly what we are trained for, but we can do it... we can do it damn good if we are allowed to. Afterall, we will do whatever is in our power to save anyone. Right now our FREEDOM, COUNTRY and fellow AMERICANS need to be saved. Preseident Bush, today you put the gloves back on... WHY? Who cares what the world thinks of us, everyone already hates us. These fanatics only know one thing. Please let our forces go back into this street fight without the gloves. Let us do what is required and come home. It is the only form of "SHOCK AND AWE" these nut jobs will understand.

God Bless any coalition country who has suffered. Thank you for your strength.

"God have mercy on my enemies, because I won't" General George S. Patton

We have to go out, but we don't have to come back.
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

[shhrubbery!]

From Long Island News 12:

Son of Northport Village police chief killed in Persian Gulf attack
(04/26/04) NORTHPORT - A Long Island native and son of the Northport Village police chief was killed in action in Iraq. Twenty-four-year-old U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Nathan Bruckenthal was among three servicemen killed in a suicide bombing on Iraqi oil facilities in the Persian Gulf Saturday. Bruckenthal was the son of Northport Village Police Chief Rick Bruckenthal. He had been a resident of Florida where his wife Patricia is three months pregnant with their first child. Bruckenthal is the first Coast Guardsman killed in action since the Vietnam War and the fifth Long Islander killed in the past year in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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