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]

Prayers for my Coastie bretheran's family.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

ping

[Semper Paratus]

Damn!

[First_Salute]

God Bless

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Acording to DEBKAfile:

To cap the grim day, three al Qaeda-style seaborne bombs driven by suicide killers attempted to destroy Iraq’s main revenue lifeline, Basra’s offshore oil terminals that have been handling up to 21.6 million barrels a day. Two US sailors were killed and five injured intercepting one of the three lethal speedboats. Two more blew up near the oil rig 7 miles out to sea where two tankers were moored. This was a strategic attack in the direst sense.

DEBKAfile’s Gulf sources report that in recent weeks, gunrunners and smugglers have carved out dozens of illegal anchorages on the Iraqi and Iranian banks of the Shatt al Arb that opens out into the Persian Gulf opposite Basra. Our terror experts detect clear al Qaeda fingerprints in the first bombing of Basra’s oil installations, launched no doubt from the Iranian bank, on the pattern of previous al Qaeda waterborne strikes against the USS Cole in October 2000 and the French tanker Limburg two years later in the Gulf of Aden.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Bump!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

May God Welcome him Home and Comfort his family and friends.



OneLoyalAmerican : Senior Chief, Damm!

[SandRat]

[E.G.C.]

Thoughts, prayers and codolences to this man's family.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

According to the BBC:

Two American sailors were killed and five were injured when they tried to board one of the intercepted boats. A third US sailor died of his wounds on Sunday.

It was the first maritime attack on Iraqi oil installations since the March 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, but onshore oil pipelines have been targeted repeatedly by saboteurs.

One official described the vessels as "suicide speedboats".

The US military says a team of investigators will try to establish the launching point of the attacks.

An eight-man coalition interception team was approaching one of the boats when it exploded, flipping the coalition boat and killing two crew members, said the US navy's Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet.

[Soaring Feather]

Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.

[The Mayor]

Welcome Home

[LibKill]

Semper Paratus (Always Ready).

Hail and Farewell to an American Hero.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

From Commander, Joint Forces Maritime Component
Commander/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Two U.S. Navy Sailors from a coalition boarding team were killed and four other crew members wounded April 24 as a result of three concurrent waterborne attacks on oil terminals located in the northern Arabian Gulf.

At approximately 5 p.m. (local) coalition naval personnel observed an unidentified dhow approaching the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) in the northern Arabian Gulf. Standard Maritime Interception Operations (MIO) procedures required the crew to board the dhow for inspection.

As the seven-member boarding team approached the dhow in a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), the dhow exploded, flipping the RHIB and throwing the crew into the water, killing two and wounding four.

All crew members were recovered by other coalition naval forces in the area, and evacuated to a military hospital in Kuwait.

All names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Approximately 20 minutes after the first dhow explosion, two unidentified small boats were observed approaching the Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT). ABOT security forces immediately took action to intercept. Prior to reaching the terminal, the boats exploded.

Initial reports indicate no damage to either terminal.

Coalition forces captured both oil terminals during the first phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom last year in the effort to prevent environmental sabotage of the terminals by Iraqi forces.

Coalition maritime forces are operating under the command of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/ Commander, 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusnc.

I just heard FOX state that 3rd person died today, a USCG

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Sad Ping

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank God for this hero and his loved ones!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

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.

[XHogPilot]

Is this the first USCG combat death since 1960s?

[Arkinsaw]

I had a feeling that the Coast Guard was going to lose someone in this one. We so often forget that the Coast Guardsmen are in harms way also.

[Arkinsaw]

378 Foot High Endurance USCG Cutter escorting a freighter which is transporting USCG Patrol Boats which along with Coast Guard personnel will be operating in support of US Armed forces in the Iraq.

[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

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

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.
Share your views

[Irelamb]

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

Not very PC anymore! But we all know that's whats in the heart of everyone of them!

[shhrubbery!]

(I believe this is a picture of Northport Police Chief Ric Bruckenthal, with a portrait of his son Petty Officer Nathan Bruckenthal in lower left corner):

For more of Petty Officer Bruckenthal's story, go here: Virtual Wall of Heroes

[New Perspective]

Cudos to my fellow coasties, I being a former.

Everyone who serves in any branch of the the military or USCG deserves our respect. When I was on a buoy tender, there was talk of sending us to the middle east for mine sweeping duty. Thankfully we did not go. But now the armed forces are using the CG's boarding expertise for these types of situations. Being a former boarding team member, I had my share of scary moments and was not enthusiastic about boarding a boat at night in the Caribbean. But we did our job. Those guys were doing their job, they knew the risk was paying the ultimate price, and they still went. It pains me to hear about his surviving family, new son on the way. What a tradegy.

We must NEVER forget.

[New Perspective]

Thank you for your service to our country.

I believe this is the gentleman you were speaking of. Please correct me if I am wrong.

http://www.check-six.com/Coast_Guard/Crash_of_Jolly_23-pg8.htm

[Patriot Hooligan]

Hey Ire,

I stopped being pc on 9/11. I am sorry if I offended you, but it's very simple: We were attacked by terrorists. We are at war with terrorists. We can either kill terrorists or have Americans get killed. What would you prefer?

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

[New Perspective]

Lt. Jack C. Rittichier

[bray]

Prayers for Our Troops

[Irelamb]

No offense taken. Just commenting on the fact that they don't teach this as the unofficial motto anymore, but in the heart of each and every Coastie this is how they feel. It's a sobering thought. No greater love hath a man than to lay down his life for his fellow man. Whether in times of Peace, saving those in peril at sea, or times of war, fighting for our freedon, these guys lay on it the line. God blees them and keep them safe.

[Irelamb]

No offense taken. Just commenting on the fact that they don't teach this as the unofficial motto anymore, but in the heart of each and every Coastie this is how they feel. It's a sobering thought. No greater love hath a man than to lay down his life for his fellow man. Whether in times of Peace, saving those in peril at sea, or times of war, fighting for our freedon, these guys lay on it the line. God blees them and keep them safe.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Bummer to lose a coasty brother.

Semper Paratus!!