BARNEGAT LIGHT, N.J. — The crew of Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light hosted a remembrance ceremony and wreath laying on Long Beach Island Monday to honor those who fought in The Battle of Exercise Tiger April 28, 1944.
The annual ceremony pays tribute to the 749 sailors and soldiers who lost their lives April 28, 1944, during The Battle of Exercise Tiger, which began as a top secret naval operation designed to prepare troops for the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion.
Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Speer, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light, N.J., prepares to place a wreath in Barnegat Inlet Monday, April 28, 2014. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Cynthia Oldham
On this 70th anniversary of Exercise Tiger, one of the wreaths was laid in honor of Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Bruckenthal, who was on a security mission April 24, 2004, when suicide bombers initiated a waterborne assault near the Iraqi Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal. He was severely wounded and later died from his injuries.
The Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light crew earned a Distinguished Unit Award for hosting the unit’s 25th consecutive wreath-laying ceremony.
“I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to recognize the efforts of our service members, especially the veterans from World War II and the D-Day invasion, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and all the members of Exercise Tiger,” said Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Speer, commanding officer of Station Barnegat Light. “There’s really no way this unit, the United States Coast Guard or this country can repay you for your sacrifices that you and your generation have made for our country.”
