| Jordan Christian Haerter | |
|---|---|
|
File:Jordan-haerter-marine-corps.png Jordan Haerter in Iraq | |
| Born | July 30, 1988 |
| Died | April 22, 2008 (aged 19) |
| Place of birth | Southampton, New York |
| Place of death | Ramadi, Iraq |
| Buried at | Oakland Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2006–2008 |
| Rank |
 Lance Corporal |
| Unit |
 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Marine Division |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War † |
| Awards |
Navy Cross Purple Heart |
Jordan Christian Haerter (July 30, 1988 – April 22, 2008) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for actions performed alongside Jonathan T. Yale during the Iraq War.
Early life[]
Jordan C. Haerter was born in Southampton, New York, on July 30, 1988. Haerter was raised in Sag Harbor, New York and graduated from Pierson High School in 2006. In September 2006, he reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and qualified as an expert on the rifle range and had the highest score in his company.[1]
After boot camp, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.[2] Haerter's unit deployed to Iraq in March 2008. They were turning over with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines at Joint Security Station Nasser in the city of Ramadi in Al Anbar Province.[3]
Death[]
On April 22, 2008, Lance Corporal Haerter was standing guard with a Marine from 2/8, Corporal Jonathan Yale, and two Iraqi policemen at the Entry Control Point of the compound, which looked down an alleyway. At 7:45 in the morning, a suicide truck bomb turned down the alleyway and barrelled towards the entrance point. The Iraqi policemen ran from the gate while Haerter and Yale opened fire on the vehicle. The two Marines managed to bring the truck to a stop just a few feet from their position. Just six seconds after the truck entered the alleyway, it detonated with 2,000 pounds of explosives and killed both Haerter and Yale as they continued firing their weapons.[3][4] Haerter was the first resident of Sag Harbor to be killed in action since World War II.[5]
Haerter and Yale were credited with stopping the truck from crashing through the gate and saving the lives of more than 50 Marines and Iraqi policemen and were recommended for the Navy Cross by General John F. Kelly.[4] Their families were presented with their Navy Crosses on February 20, 2009. Haerter was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Sag Harbor.[1][5]
Awards and decorations[]
[]
| “ | The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal Jordan C. Haerter, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Rifleman, 3d Platoon, Weapons Company, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 22 April 2008. While Lance Corporal Haerter and a fellow Marine manned a sentry post at the Entry Control Point (ECP) for Joint Security Station Nasser in Ramadi, Iraq, a tank truck suddenly began to rapidly negotiate the serpentine concrete obstacles leading to the ECP. Lance Corporal Haerter and his fellow Marine quickly recognized the threat of a suicide bomber driving a truck capable of carrying a large quantity of explosives and posing a major threat to the more than 50 Marines and Iraqi policemen in the Joint Security Station. Lance Corporal Haerter immediately engaged the truck with precise fire from his M4 rifle, while his fellow Marine opened fire with his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. Ignoring the grave personal risk, Lance Corporal Haerter and his fellow Marine continued their accurate fires, stopping the truck a few feet from their positions. At that instant the suicide bomber detonated approximately 2,000 pounds of explosives contained in the truck, leveling the ECP and mortally wounding Lance Corporal Haerter. The courageous actions of Lance Corporal Haerter in resolutely defending his post against an imminent threat undoubtedly helped save the lives of more than 50 Marines and Iraqi policemen at Joint Security Station Nasser that day. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, courageous actions and total devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Haerter reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.[5] | ” |
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "LCpl Jordan Christian Haerter". Find A Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26336023/jordan-christian-haerter.
- ↑ "Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan C. Haerter". Military Times. https://thefallen.militarytimes.com/marine-lance-cpl-jordan-c-haerter/3500865.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Lance Corporal Jordan C. Haerter". jordanhaerter.com. http://www.jordanhaerter.com/about.html.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Paul Szoldra. "'They Could Have Run But Did Not': Read John Kelly's Letter For 2 Heroic Marines Who Stopped A Suicide Bomber". Task & Purpose. https://taskandpurpose.com/john-kelly-letter-yale-haerter.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Jordan C. Haerter". Military Times. http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=3652. Retrieved January 5, 2021.