Heroic last stand, Marines thwart enemy attack

Marine Corps News ^ | Lance Cpl. Casey Jones, USMC

[SandRat]

It was a typical quiet morning on April 22, with the temperature intensifying as a bright orange sun emerged high from the horizon.

Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter, a rifleman with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, and Cpl. Jonathan T. Yale, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, RCT-1, were standing post, just as they’ve done numerous times before. During a standard length watch in a small checkpoint protected by concrete barriers where they overlooked the small gravel road, lined with palm trees leading to their entry control point.

However, this morning would be different. Quickly it would turn, chaotic then tragic. Two Marines would gallantly sacrifice their lives so others could live.

A truck packed with thousands of pounds of explosives entered the area where Haerter and Yale were standing guard. Realizing the vehicles intentions Haerter and Yale without hesitation stood their ground, drew their weapons and fired at the vehicle. The truck rolled to a stop and exploded, killing the two Marines.

“I was on post the morning of the attack,” said Lance Cpl. Benjamin Tupaj, a rifleman with 3rd Platoon, Police Transition Team 3, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. “I heard the (squad automatic weapon) go off at a cyclic rate and then the detonation along with a flash. Then I heard a Marine start yelling ‘we got hit, we got hit.’ It was hectic.”

In the face of a committed enemy, Haerter and Yale stood their ground, in turn saving the lives of numerous Marines, sailors, Iraqi Policemen, and civilians. Both Marines displayed heroic, self-sacrificing actions and truly lived up to the Corps values of honor, courage, and commitment.

“They saved all of our lives, if it wasn’t for them that gate probably wouldn’t have held,” Tupaj said. “The explosion blew out all of the windows over 150 meters from where the blast hit. If that truck had made it into the compound, there would’ve been a lot more casualties. They saved everyone’s life here.”

According to official reports the heroic actions of Haerter and Yale’s saved the lives of the 33 Marines and 21 Iraqi Police as well as numerous civilians at the entry control point.

“They are heroes because thousands of pounds (of explosives) would’ve made its way through the gate and many more of us wouldn’t be here,” said Lance Cpl. Lawrence Tillery a rifleman with 3rd platoon. “I have a son back home, and I know if that truck would’ve made it to where it was going – I wouldn’t be here today. Because of Lance Cpl. Haerter and Cpl. Yale, I will be able to see my son again. They gave me that opportunity.”

A week after the attack, the Marines with 3rd platoon, remember their fallen brethren as good friends and Marines

“Cpl. Yale was a great guy, really friendly and kind of shy,” said Hospitalman Eric Schwartz a corpsman with the platoon.

“Haerter was an amazing guy, I knew everything about him. He was my best friend.” said Lance Cpl. Cody Israel, a rifleman with 3rd platoon, Haerter’s roommate for more than a year and half.

Haerter and Yale were both posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and have been nominated for an award for their valor.

[SandRat]

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[DieHard the Hunter]

For as long as America can produce warriors such as these, there is yet hope for the Free World.

Rest well, Marines Haerter and Yale. You did your Duty and are now in a better place.

God Bless America.

Salute!... Two!

[jimfree]

Silver Star minimum. Others have gotten it for shooting a fleeing kid in the back. I vote for Navy Cross.

[Manly Warrior]

Great sacrifice that is honored among men.

I only regret that these young men’s sacrifice will be ignored by most of America.

“No greater love, than to lay one’s life down for a friend”

God Bless

[Skenderbej]

Or more appropriately, no greater love than to lay down your life for millions you don’t even know, and even many who hate who you are (a soldier).

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

It really aggravates me that our military has cleaned the clocks of the bad guys, wiped out tens of thousands of murderous scum without suffering a single defeat, and yet, were these cowardly terrorists able to inflict a single attack with significant loss of life on our side, the anti-war party would scream and wail as if half our forces had been wiped out.

But it makes me angry that they would not do so out of honest mourning for our troops, but out of cynical and callous motives, hoping both to stain the honor of our military and our good leaders who support it.

[FMBass]

May God bless these heroes, and my condolences to their families and friends.

[RightOnline]

If they were here to ask......they’d insist they weren’t heroes; merely doing their duty.

They’d be wrong. They ARE heroes. God bless them and their families.

[A message]

For as long as America can produce warriors such as these, there is yet hope for the Free World.

BUMP

[stockpirate]

May God bless their families.

Everytime I read these stories of our brave soldiers I cry, my God where do we find such people.

[stockpirate]

CMH at the least.

[stockpirate]

CMH at the least.

[stockpirate]

CMH

[MindBender26]

When the truck bomb destroyed the Marine barracks in Beirut 25 years ago, killing 200+ Marines, it was because the one Marine on guard was not allowed to keep his rifle loaded!

[skr]

May God bless their loved ones with comfort and peace.

[Lancey Howard]

(( ping ))

[VOA]

When the truck bomb destroyed the Marine barracks in Beirut 25
years ago, killing 200+ Marines, it was because the one Marine on
guard was not allowed to keep his rifle loaded!

IIRC, the young Marine survived the blast.
And said that "on final approach", the truck-bomb driver had
a large grin on his face.

And some people don't think there's REAL EVIL in this world.

[RedRover]

Thanks, Lancey. God bless these fallen warriors and the loved ones left behind.

[AprilfromTexas]

I agree.

RIP Marines and thank you for your service to our country.

God bless and comfort their families.

[dighton]

Bump, and thank you for posting.

[lilycicero]

Thank you for pinging me to this. Sorrow for their friends and families.

[aculeus]

BTTT

[SandRat]

Oh I know that and more, the other thing that came out of that is nod your head up and down and say yes to the State Depart pukes.

Then do what the hell you’ve been trained to do.

[cookcounty]

Thanks for posting this. Very inspiring.

For those interested, for the month of May, the US casualty rate is .76/day, the lowest since the Iraq War began 4 years ago.

[Semper Fi Mom]

Thank you for posting this. God Bless these heroes and their families.

[river rat]

Semper Fi

[fortheDeclaration]

the truck-bomb driver had a large grin on his face.

I guarantee he isn't grinning now!

[Nailbiter]

ping

[Smokin' Joe]

Navy Cross, minimum, but I’d vote for a CMH given the opportunity.

[fella]

Silver Star minimum. Others have gotten it for shooting a fleeing kid in the back.

So true but then they were elite officers of anointed family and not lowly grunts from the plebes.

[freema]

Posted previously, by the author himself ♥, a new FReeper.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2014349/posts

and there's MORE!

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:usmcwriter/index?brevity=full;tab=comments

[Dick Vomer]

I hope that there wasn't a Koran in the truck, cause then the CIC, battalion commander and Commanding General of area of operations would have to bend down and apologize for destroying a bunch of paper and defacing a religious relic.

I hate it when my monitor gets blurry like this.

God Bless them and may their families know that each of us will cherish the sacrifice that they made in providing their sons the upbringing to be Marines and chose the warrior path.

Semper Fi Marines, carry on.

[FreeAtlanta]

yes, but he was alive to campaign and apply for his own medals. These Gentlemen will need others to carry their case.

[rfreedom4u]

And when they get to heaven, “Saint Peter,” they will say, “another marine reporting sir. I’ve served my time in hell.”

[NYCop]

Made in the USA for generations, born free and strong, GOD BLESS ALL OF THEM

[COBOL2Java]

Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter was killed in action April 22, by a suicide bomber inside a dump truck with approximately 1,000 pounds of high explosives. Haerter battled a hostile challenger, in turn saving the lives off countless Marines, sailors, Iraqi Policemen, and civilians. He displayed heroic, self-sacrificing actions and truly lived up to the phrase "honor, courage, and commitment" while putting his own life in harm's way.

---

The Marines with 3rd Platoon, Police Transition Team 3, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, come together April 29 to prove their resolve and to show support for one another. Cpl. Jonathan T. Yale, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter were killed in action April 22, by a suicide bomber inside a dump truck with approximately 1,000 pounds of high explosives. "I was on post the morning off the attack," said Lance Cpl. Benjamin Tupaj, a rifleman with 3rd Platoon, Police Transition Team 3, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, with a hurtful tone in his voice. "I heard the (squad automatic weapon) go off at a cyclic rate and then the detonation along with a flash. It blew me at least 3 meters from where I was standing onto the ground. Then I heard a Marine start yelling 'we got hit, we got hit.' It was hectic."

---

A Marine with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, honors Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter, a fallen warrior, after the memorial service April 27. Haerter was killed in action April 22, while defending his post from a vehicle suicide bomber. "He was a United States Marine," said Capt. Jonathan Hamilton, Weapons Company Commander. "He was a patriot; he served his country, just as you are doing now. He was a warrior and fulfilled his duty. He was loved by family and friends. We knew every bit of this before the 22nd of April. But we didn't have time to think about it. Now is our time to think about it. Think about our commitment. Think about the fact that Jordan lost his life for his fellow Marines. He lost his life fulfilling his duties and in the face of a committed enemy. We're all blessed for having the opportunity to meet a man like Jordan. We can not and we will not fail him, because Jordan will and always be a member of this family."

[USMCPOP]

I didn’t have an opportunity to speak with Cpl. Yale’s family during the funeral. We did have a good turnout of Patriot Guard Riders, despite the short notice.

[Marine_Uncle]

Yet another Marine’s name added to the honor roll. May his family get through their great loss, and only have fine memories of him. A Marine, honor bound.

[Ramius]

Suddenly I’m feeling pretty darn humble.