 Lance Corporal Jordan C. Haerter
United States Marine Corps
Soldier Ride, The Hamptons is dedicated to the memory of LCpl Jordan Haerter from Sag Harbor.
"Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13
United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jordan Christian Haerter, age 19, was killed in action in Ramadi, Iraq by a suicide bomber intent on killing the 33 Marines in the compound that he and another Marine, Corporal Jonathan Yale, 21 were protecting. The date was Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008. For his actions Jordan was awarded the Navy Cross.
Jordan was born on July 30th, 1988 in Southampton, New York, the son and only child of Christian Haerter and JoAnn Lyles of Sag Harbor. He attended school in Sag Harbor and graduated from Pierson High School along with his beloved class of 2006.
Jordan entered the Marine Corps directly after high school and attended 3 grueling months of recruit training at the infamous MCRS Parris Island in Beaufort, South Carolina. While there, a highlight of his time was his qualification as 'top shot' in his Alpha Company platoon, a distinction that would soon serve him well in Iraq.
 As a child, Jordan was already displaying signs of his future military aspirations, always choosing to have his mom whip up his Halloween costume, visually accurate of course, in a military theme. He had a wide circle of friends in Sag Harbor, who he never compartmentalized into a clique, who remember him for his infectious smile, quick witted humor with dry delivery, and his kind and gentle demeanor. Always one to want to grab life by the horns, Jordan began taking flying lessons at East Hampton Airport in his young teenage years. At 16 he surprised his parents when he appeared after a lesson with the back of his shirt cut out; a tradition among pilots when a student has soloed the aircraft for the first time. Now having mastered flight, Jordan soon gave that up for the more important goal of obtaining the teenage Holy Grail...his drivers license. Once obtained, it wasn't long before he purchased his first truck, a 1991 Toyota Four Runner, the perfect vehicle for pursuing his passion of four wheeling. He soon mastered the art of mudding up his truck, much to the chagrin of his Oma, knowing that if he waited 3 days after a rainstorm and approached a puddle on 'Dirt D' at precisely 27.25 mph he could completely cover his vehicle with 1" of peanut butter mud. It was also at this time ironically, that he got one of his first jobs delivering laundry for a local dry cleaners with that vehicle.
Jordan's life was molded and shaped by many forces but none stronger than the bond of grandparent to grandchild. His goodness, compassion, humor, and zest for life were all directly linked to his close relationship with his beloved Oma Haerter and Grumpa and Gramma Lyles. The life lessons that they shared with him were permanently embedded in his heart and there was no possibility that they could ever leave him.
 The final years of Jordan's life saw him coming of age. He began a serious love relationship and formed an unbreakable bond with Nicole Jonat also of Sag Harbor. Many hours on the phone and innumerable text messages later they had laid out their plans for their future in Sag Harbor. All the best qualities that Jordan possessed had become fused into the man he was, carbon into a diamond. Gone were the childlike qualities, replaced by conviction and honor. The moral strength he displayed and the love of his fellow Marines became apparent in a micro second that fateful morning at that lonely post in war torn Ramadi. At the funeral home on Saturday, Jordans parents were told a story by the parents of another marine who spoke of Jordans selfless act of heroism, Jordan had shoved their son who was standing next to him to the ground and began firing on the vehicle that had breached the security corridor. The driver of the vehicle was killed and the truck exploded, killing Jordan and Jonathan but sparing their son and all the other Marines and civilians in the compound.
Jordan was a member of the fiercely proud and storied 1st Battalion, Ninth Marines also known as 'The Walking Dead'. He has been awarded the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart for his actions in Iraq, along with the Combat Action Ribbon, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Along with his military honors, Jordan was presented with a Southampton Town Police Department Badge and a Sag Harbor Police Department Gold Badge.
Jordan is survived by his parents, Christian Haerter and JoAnn Lyles along with his Oma Lilly Haerter of Sag Harbor, Jack and Elanore Lyles of Fort Mill SC, Nicole Jonat of Sag Harbor, and numerous Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, and Friends.
For more information on Jordan please see his memorial website.
The Secretary of the Navy
Washington, D.C. 20350-1000
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the NAVY CROSS posthumously to
LANCE CORPORAL
JORDAN C. HAERTER
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Rifleman, 3rd Platoon, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th 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 obastacles 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 policement 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 of 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.
For the President,
Donald C. Winter
Secretary of the Navy
Heroic last stand, Marines thwart enemy attack
By Lance Cpl. Casey Jones, Regimental Combat Team 1
 RAMADI, IRAQ (April 29, 2008) - 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.
Update: Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter was awarded the Navy Cross.
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