The U.S. Coast Guard has served in every major conflict since 1790, including the War of 1812, the Vietnam War, World War I and World War II. Many people have died or were injured in combat, and as a result, awarded the Purple Heart medal. However, only one name is recognized at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in Windsor, New York. That is, until now.
Master Chief Petty Officer Michael Aviles, the senior independent duty team leader of the Work-Life Service Center in Norfolk, Virginia, visited the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in September 2010 with his brother-in-law.
While walking around the exhibits, Aviles began to notice the Coast Guard wasn’t recognized. There were no plaques or monuments to physically show any member of the Coast Guard had ever received a Purple Heart.
“I looked in the Hall of Honor database and found only one Coast Guard name, Nathan Bruckenthal,” said Aviles.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Bruckenthal, a damage controlman assigned to Tactical Law Enforcement Team South Detachment 403, was killed in action at the Khawr Al Amay oil terminal off the coast of Iraq on April 24, 2004, when the boat he and his team were intercepting exploded. Bruckenthal was the first Coast Guardsman killed in combat since the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously.
“Our brothers in blue paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Aviles. “I felt it was necessary to find these people. I felt compelled.”
Aviles began what has become a four-year project to compile a list of as many Purple Heart recipients in the Coast Guard as he could find.
To aid in his search, Aviles enlisted the help of Dr. William Thiesen, the Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area historian.
“Dr. Thiesen helped me find people to contact and ideas to research,” said Aviles. “We started reaching out to councils and national groups to help us locate names.”
Since beginning the project in September 2010, Aviles has been able to research and add nearly 1,500 names to the list of Purple Heart recipients. Each name has to be verified with paper documentation or historical photos.
“As I started learning more about these people, they weren’t just names anymore,” said Aviles. “They were people. You learn about who they used to be. This project became something I couldn’t just stop. I had to finish it.”
Though the project is coming to an end, Aviles has made memories that will last a lifetime.
To read the entire story posted by Coast Guard Mid Atlantic, click on the link below:
Article via: http://midatlantic.coastguard.dodlive.mil/2015/02/honoring-purple-heart-recipients/
