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bobdina
07-20-2009, 02:07 PM
Jordan Haerter
Date of birth: 30 July 1988
Place of birth: Southampton, N.Y.
Home of record: Sag Harbor, N.Y.


Jordan Haerter grew up in the small village of Sag Harbor, the only child of JoAnn L. Lyles and Christian U. Haerter. He enlisted in the Marine Corps through the delayed entry program on January 31st, 2006 during his senior year of high school and left for bootcamp in September. Killed in Action in Iraq during the firefight that earned him the Navy Cross, he was Sag Harbor's first battlefield loss since World War II. The fellow Marine referenced in his citation was Corporal Jonathan Yale, who was also Killed in Action and who was also posthumously awarded the Navy Cross in the same ceremony. The North Haven-Sag Harbor Bridge was renamed in honor of Jordan Haerter.
The Web site www.jordanhaerter.com was set up by Haerter's family in his memory.



Navy Cross



Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror

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.

Service: Marine Corps

Rank: Lance Corporal

Awarded and Presented Posthumously to his Parents by Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter, on February 20, 2009, at Quantico, VA.