Douglas John Brustman was born on July 17 1946. He entered Saint Peter’s College in 1964 and joined the ROTC, and graduated on June 16, 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in History. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve and was assigned to A Company, 937th Engineering Group, 20th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade. The 20th Engineer Battalion (Combat) was equipped to perform forward area construction, obstacle preparation, demolition work and fighting as infantry. It provided all non-divisional engineer support in its area and served as a local construction agency for all projects (especially base construction), upgrading land lines of communication, and airfield construction and rehabilitation.

The 20th Engineering Battalion was deployed in Kontum Province, South Vietnam. Lt. Brustman’s tour began on July 7, 1969. On August 13, 1969, he was "Killed in Action" when his vehicle hit an enemy mine in Kontum, RVN. He was 23 years old. His body was returned home and buried at Resurrection Cemetery in Westbrook, Connecticut.  His hometown was listed as Jamaica Estates in Queens, New York.

Lt. Brustman was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Individual Citation Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and a Vietnam National Order 5th class.