ALCOAST 068/19 - FEB 2019 TWO BUILDINGS NAMED FOR COAST GUARD HEROES

R 281308 FEB 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINTON DC//CG-092//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N05700//
ALCOAST 068/19
COMDTNOTE 5700
SUBJ: TWO BUILDINGS NAMED FOR COAST GUARD HEROES
A: Policy for Naming of Cutters and Shore Facilities, COMDTINST 5726.10 (series)
1. The Commandant approved recommendations of the Standing Board for Naming Vessels and Shore
Facilities to name two facilities after Coast Guard heroes. Authority to name those facilities
is effective immediately.
2. Lieutenant Robert H. Prause
    A. USCG Atlantic Area requested naming the USCG Sector Hampton Roads Building located at Base
Portsmouth, VA, the Robert H. Prause Sector Hampton Roads Building.
    B. Born in 1915, Prause grew up in Norfolk, VA, where he attended Matthew Maury High School
and Old Dominion University. In 1939, Prause entered the Coast Guard Academy and served aboard
Cutter Escanaba. He developed a tethered rescue swimmer system that helped save 133 men aboard
the U.S. Army troop ship SS Dorchester after it was torpedoed by a German U-boat in the icy
North Atlantic en route to Greenland on 03 February 1943. Later that year, Escanaba exploded
and sank, taking all but three crewmembers to the bottom. Prause was one of three survivors but
later died aboard the cutter that rescued him. It was 75 years ago that Lieutenant Robert Prause
was buried at sea with full military honors. He posthumously received the Navy & Marine Corps
Medal and the Purple Heart Medal.
3. Petty Officer Nathan Bruckenthal
    A. USCG TACLET South requested naming USCG Air Station Miami’s Building 160, Nathan Bruckenthal Hall.
    B. USCG TACLET South, the Coast Guard’s premier maritime law enforcement unit, is housed in
Building 160 at USCG Air Station Miami. Naming the facility after DC3 Bruckenthal not only
furthers the legacy of a fallen Coast Guard hero, but it also directly honors one of TACLET’s
own in the place where he trained, deployed, and embodied the dedication characteristic of TACLET
South members. Petty Officer Bruckenthal was among the first members deployed to Iraq in support
of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003, and he subsequently deployed again in 2004. It was during
this second tour that he lost his life in the line of duty on April 24, 2004. A recipient of the
Bronze Star (with “V”), Purple Heart, and two Combat Action Ribbons, Petty Officer Bruckenthal’s
service exemplifies the Coast Guard’s core values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty.
4. The Standing Board for Naming Vessels and Shore Facilities welcomes and encourages units to
continue requesting permission to name their unnamed facilities after Coast Guard heroes. Units
considering naming buildings should submit recommendations in accordance with REF (A). The
following best practices are offered to facilitate efficient and effective nominations:
    A. Area Commander Endorsements. The strongest packages are routed from the requesting unit
through their chain of command with endorsements at each level. Packages that have been reviewed
by the Area Historian and endorsed by the Area Commander help ensure proper vetting, which the
Board values.
    B. Previously Unrecognized Heroes. Units are encouraged to consider those Coast Guard heroes
who are less recognized for their actions. Strong nominations include, but are not limited to,
Coast Guard personnel who were “firsts” or “lasts”; those who died in the line of duty; war
heroes; people who had a significant impact on Coast Guard history; Lifesaving, Lighthouse and
Revenue Cutter Service personnel; and persons who have earned lifesaving medals. There is no
shortage of people meeting these criteria. As such, the Board is looking for a wider diversity
of names and stories to tell. The Board strongly recommends against overuse of limited names that
are already well recognized through previous assignment to other facilities and cutters.
    C. Local Connection. Units are encouraged to identify Coast Guard heroes who have a
significant connection to the local area of the facility.
    D. Recognizing Living Coast Guard Heroes. The Service’s naming policy requires the namesake be
deceased with sufficient time lapsed to ensure that the name will withstand the “test of time.”
Units should refrain from requesting naming buildings after living Coast Guard heroes or those
who have recently passed away. In lieu of honoring a living member with a naming submission,
consider other recognition including Public Service Awards, recognition ceremonies, Flag letters, etc.
    E. Coast Guard Historians. Units are encouraged to contact their respective Area Historian in
their efforts to identify, research, and consider Coast Guard heroes. The USCG Atlantic Area
Historian is Dr. William Thiesen at William.H.Thiesen@uscg.mil and (757) 398-6643. The USCG
Pacific Area Historian is Dr. David Rosen at David.S.Rosen@uscg.mil and (510) 437-5888.
    F. Outreach Opportunities. Upon approval of its naming request, units are encouraged to host a
facility naming ceremony and invite local veterans, friends of the Service, descendants of the
namesake, elected officials, and other engaged stakeholders. Recent naming events garnered great
support from the local communities and included media coverage.
5. Deadlines. The Standing Board for Naming Vessels and Shore Facilities will convene twice a
year to consider requests for naming facilities.
    A. June 2019. All requests received to date, and through May 31st will be considered during
the June 2019 board meeting.
    B. December 2019. All requests received from June 1st through November 30th will be considered
during the December 2019 board meeting.
6. Questions regarding the Naming Board or the process for submitting a name may directed to
Gwenda Bradford, COMDT (CG-0923) via email at Gwenda.E.Bradford@uscg.mil.
7. RDML Melissa Bert, Director, Governmental and Public Affairs, sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.