Coast Guard Chooses Alexandria to Commission New Ship Honoring Local Hero

Mary Wadland July 26, 2018

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Virginia’s Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax purchases a souvenir mug and hands cash to Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Sassner who led him on a tour of the newly commissioned cutter, USCGC Nathan Bruckenthal.
Photo by Lucelle O’Flaherty

July 25 was a big day at the Alexandria waterfront with a lot of military pomp and circumstance that included high-ranking officers, big names in local, state and national government, and even a military band when a 154-foot cutter ship, moored at the city pier, was officially commissioned.

The crew members aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Nathan Bruckenthal moor to a pier in Alexandria, Va., Tuesday, July 24, 2018, prior to its commissioning ceremony. The Coast Guard is scheduled to commission the 28th Sentinel class Fast Response Cutter, Wednesday, July 25, 2018.
Photo by Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Loumania Stewart.

The cutter is named after local Herndon high school graduate, Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Bruckenthal, who was mortally wounded during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Bruckenthal thwarted a multi-vessel suicide attack on an oil terminal in the Arabian Gulf in 2004. His actions prevented further loss of life, environmental damage, and the destruction of key infrastructure. For his courageous actions, Bruckenthal was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. He was the first Coast Guard officer killed in action since the Vietnam Wayr.

Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax aboard the cutter with Nathan Bruckenthal’s mother, Laurie E. Freiman.
Photo by Lucelle O’Flaherty.

The ship features advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance equipment that allows its crews to more effectively conduct the Coast Guard’s statutory missions.