United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jordan Christian Haerter, age 19, was killed in action April 22, 2008, in Ramadi, Iraq, by a suicide bomber intent on killing the 33 Marines in the compound that he was protecting. Also killed was Marine Corporal Jonathan Yale. Jordan was born July 30, 1988 in Southampton, NY. He was the the only child of, and is survived by his parents JoAnn Lyles and Christian Haerter of Sag Harbor, NY. 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. In boot camp he earned the qualification as Platoon High Shooter in his Alpha Company. He was a member of the fiercely proud and storied 1st Battalion, 9th Marines also known as the "The Walking Dead". He has been awarded the Purple Heart for his actions in Iraq along with the Combat Action Ribbon, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Along with his military honors, Jordan was presented with with a Southampton Town Police Department Badge, and a Sag Harbor Police Department Gold Badge. He had a wide circle of friends in Sag Harbor who remember him for his infectious smile, quick-witted humor with dry delivery and his kind and gentle demeanor. He took flying lessons and soloed at age 16 prior to obtaining his driver's license.
On February 20, 2009, LCpl Haerter's family was presented with his posthumous Navy Cross.
Navy Cross Citation
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Global War on Terror
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Lance Corporal
Battalion: 1st Battalion
Division: II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)
GENERAL ORDERS:
CITATION:
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.
On February 20, 2009, LCpl Haerter's family was presented with his posthumous Navy Cross.
Navy Cross Citation
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Global War on Terror
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Lance Corporal
Battalion: 1st Battalion
Division: II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)
GENERAL ORDERS:
CITATION:
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.
United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jordan Christian Haerter, age 19, was killed in action April 22, 2008, in Ramadi, Iraq, by a suicide bomber intent on killing the 33 Marines in the compound that he was protecting. Also killed was Marine Corporal Jonathan Yale. Jordan was born July 30, 1988 in Southampton, NY. He was the the only child of, and is survived by his parents JoAnn Lyles and Christian Haerter of Sag Harbor, NY. 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. In boot camp he earned the qualification as Platoon High Shooter in his Alpha Company. He was a member of the fiercely proud and storied 1st Battalion, 9th Marines also known as the "The Walking Dead". He has been awarded the Purple Heart for his actions in Iraq along with the Combat Action Ribbon, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Along with his military honors, Jordan was presented with with a Southampton Town Police Department Badge, and a Sag Harbor Police Department Gold Badge. He had a wide circle of friends in Sag Harbor who remember him for his infectious smile, quick-witted humor with dry delivery and his kind and gentle demeanor. He took flying lessons and soloed at age 16 prior to obtaining his driver's license.
On February 20, 2009, LCpl Haerter's family was presented with his posthumous Navy Cross.
Navy Cross Citation
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Global War on Terror
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Lance Corporal
Battalion: 1st Battalion
Division: II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)
GENERAL ORDERS:
CITATION:
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.
On February 20, 2009, LCpl Haerter's family was presented with his posthumous Navy Cross.
Navy Cross Citation
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Global War on Terror
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Lance Corporal
Battalion: 1st Battalion
Division: II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)
GENERAL ORDERS:
CITATION:
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.
