Posted on 05/20/2008 5:39:23 PM PDT by 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.
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!
Silver Star minimum. Others have gotten it for shooting a fleeing kid in the back. I vote for Navy Cross.
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
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).
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.
May God bless these heroes, and my condolences to their families and friends.
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.
BUMP
May God bless their families.
Everytime I read these stories of our brave soldiers I cry, my God where do we find such people.
CMH at the least.
CMH at the least.
CMH
May God bless their loved ones with comfort and peace.
(( ping ))
Thanks, Lancey. God bless these fallen warriors and the loved ones left behind.
I agree.
RIP Marines and thank you for your service to our country.
God bless and comfort their families.
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