PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT

The Privacy Act Statement for lnfonnaUon on this form Is contained In NAVMC
PERSONAL AWARD RECOMMENDATION Fann 11000. Prlvacv Act Statement for Marine Corps Par.sonnet and Pay Records.
FROM : (Title and Address) TO: (Awarding Authority)
ADJUTANT SECNAV HEADQUARTERS USMC CR/lJ
1STBN 9TH MARINES 2DMARDIV 14. EXP. OF ACTIVE DUTY: IF RETIREMENT, NUMBER OF YEARS:
PSC BOX 20112 04/22/2008
CAMP LEJEUNE NC
28542 0112
1. SOCIAL SECURITY#: 2. DESIGfNEC/MOS:
(b)(6) 0311
E3
15. EST. DETACHMENT DATE: 04/25/2008
Retirement
Transfer
@Tennlnal Leave
Impact Award
3. NAME (Last,first,MI): 14. COMPONENT 16. NEW DUTY STATION (Home address If separation anticipated):
HAERTER, JORDAN C (USN,USMC,etc.): NIA
USMC
5. GRADE/RANK: 117. UNIT AT TIME OF ACTION/SERVICE: ·1a. DUTY ASSIGNMENT:
LCPL Weapons Company, 1st Bn, 9th Marines Rifleman
6. WARFARE DESIGNATOR (Navy Only): 17.RUC: 19. PREVIOUS PERSONAL DECORATIONS AND PERIOD
00000 RECOGNIZED:
8. RECOMMENDED AWARD: 19. SPECIFIC ACHIEVEMENT: CR 20080422 •
NX • NAVY CROSS 1

2080422
[!]Yes 0No
10. TYPE:
RHerolc ~Heroic Posthumous 0MIA
Meritorious Meritorious Posthumous
11. NUMBER OF AWARD OF RECOMMENDED MEDAL: 20. PERSONAL AWARDS RECOMMENDED-NOT YET APPROVED:
1
12. ACTION DATE/MERITORIOUS PERIOD: 21. OTHER PERSONNEL BEING RECOMMENDED FOR SAME ACTION:
04/22/2008 • 04/22/2008 Cpl Yale J . T .
13. GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF ACTION/SERVICE:
OCONUS ·OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
22. I certify that the facts contained In the summary of action are ~known tome ~ a matter of record
NAME, GRADE, TITLE OF ORIGINATOR SIGNATURE DATE
(b)(6) 04/24/2008

23. FORWARDING ENDORSEMENTS BY VIA ADDRESSEEISl.

VIA COMMAND RECOMMENDED COMBAT"V" SIGNATURE & GRADE DATE FWD
AWARD
Battalion Commander NX • NAVY CROSS l!IYas (b)(6) 04/25/2008
0No
1/9 20 MARDIV (R/U)

RCT1 CO NX • NAVY CROSS !!Ives 0No 05/12/2008

1ST MAR REGT 1ST MARDIV
(R/U)
CG, I MEF (FWD) NX • NAVY CROSS l!lves 0No 05/19/2008
I MEF (FORWARD)

For
John Kelly
MAJGEN. CG, I MEF (FWD)
COMUSMARCENT NX · NAVY CROSS l!lvas 0No (b)(6) 05/29/2008
HQTRS MARFOR CENTCOM

For
Samuel Helland
LTGEN, COMUSMARCENT
CMC NX • NAVY CROSS 0Yes (b)(6) 08/2512008
!!}No
HEADQUARTERS USMC
(R/U)
For
James Conway
GEN,CMC
24. TO BE COMPLETED BY AWARDING AUTHORITY
DISPOSITION OF BASIC COMBAT"V" EXTRAORDINARY SIGNATURE,GRADE,TITLE DATE APPROVED
RECOMMENDATION HEROISM
NX • NAVY CROSS 0Yes l!INo l!JYas 0No
(b)(6) 11/14/2008

For
Donald C Winter
CIV,SECNAV

NAVMC 11533 (EF)

 Citation
NX approved as NX by CIV DONALD C WINTER on 11/14/2008
For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Rifleman, 3rd Platoon, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th
Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, t Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in support of Operation IRAQI
FREEDOM on 22 April 2008. While Lance Corporal Hearter and a fellow Marine manned a sentry post at the
Entry Control Point for Joint Security Station Nasser in Ramadi, Iraq, a tank truck suddenly began to rapidly
negotiate the serpentine concrete obstacles leading to the Entry Control Point. Lance Corporal Hearter and his
fellow Marine quickly recognized the threat a suicide bomber driving a truck capable of carrying a large quantity
of explosives posed to the more than 50 Marines and Iraqi policemen in the Joint Security Station. Lance
Corporal Hearter 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 Hearter
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 Entry Control Point and killing Lance Corporal Hearter. 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 decisive actions, unlimited courage
in the face of extreme danger, and complete dedication to duty and his fellow Marines, Lance Corporal Haerter
reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States
Naval Service.

NAVMC 11533 (EF)

 Summary of Action
Lance Corporal Haerter was in receipt of imminent danger pay during this period.

Lance Corporal Haerter is enthusiastically recommended for receipt of the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism
on 22 April 2008 while standing post in the guard tower of the entry control point into Joint Security Station (JSS)
Nasser of East Ramadi. The Marines posted at this entry control point are responsible for controlfing access into
the Coalition Forces/Iraqi Police (IP) compound, consisting of a vehicle and equipment storage lot and multiple
buildings used for IP operations and administration, as well as the garrison for the partnering Marines.

At approximately 0745, a suicide truck-borne improvised explosive device (STBIED} entered the vehicle entry
control lane and began to drive through the barrier plan towards the gate. Realizing the vehicle had no intention
of stopping, Lance Corporal Haerter engaged the vehicle with his M4 rifle. As a result of his steady, precise fire,
the truck rolled to a stop ten meters from the entry gate and detonated more than 2000 lbs of explosives, as
determined by Weapons Intelligence Team 5 (Camp Ramadi). The blast completely destroyed the entry control
point and guard tower and mortally wounded Lance Corporal Haerter. The explosion also caused extensive
damage to the JSSs COC and the exterior of several buildings in the immediate vlcinity.

Lance Corporal Haerters heroic actions in preventing the breach of the front gate of JSS Nasser protected the
lives of 50 Marines and a similar number of Iraqi Police present at the station the day of the incident.
Recognizing the danger to his fellow Marines and partnered Iraqi Police, Lance Corporal Haerter fearlessly gave
his life in their defense.

NAVMC 11533 (EF)

 (b)(6), (b)(3)

On 22 April zoos at ~pm~hnllldy0745. l w~ tt}l1Jby (b)(6), (b)(3) i!~1

the Apple VCP wm. in di~rt'Jf ~--··\\~ fo ws~d c)ft1 ~Hee catt l lefhhe Marine Hous,:
anJ pn1c;t;edcd to JSS N~. While lwasdepariin& the .from ofth:c h,uik,ij~g. l saw a
truck with u blue l<Jp cvmii'i4 rowa~ the g,tt rui4 ~t · ~ l. J tee~ an JP )'ill:lug an<l
screarnin~ ~ then heard a b~f<lf mound l Ott! !5 rotffids ..i.wu wt1ke Ui>f b:j' $1 lntqi l).oi~1:
truck. Whim 1 wok¢ up i™"re \V~ IPs :rnt.tii:il!,? all .around - l~l ~lp•i:i me JKJ$ at. f,4.1ho
l was g()OO. J nu1 <)Ve'ftbere and e.nuld m1t find the hw;i- Mari~ lhBil t,'t.>rc iu t~ Pt>st. l
saw a c:amcib&:kin the rabble and start~d fO puil ii £ll~ - fr w:a.$ • · . (ha,u ¥ale.
J got Corporul Yale om of ffi'~ nibble, and 1hf11 I ~,.,v a ooo:t stick;\~. ~t f.m'ili S(J1i1e
mtwl~ and flmivd tryhig 1.n gttl thlu '.Mwitfti:i: mtt f'rutn tnldt~mh ,iU lh~ d~bti's - tr ,v;...;
L.:.fk:e Corpori.d Jordan Ha~1t'f. I dioo saw two Marmts rumiing !l(}W~ me -· I· do ,Kil
n,m:1cmkr much d~. .l w~ put oo a ground m~Hv~ and !'>.ml bac{;: ie Camp. Ramadi t'or
freat:ment for (b)(6)
'fo the besl ofmy ,~olt~foa iJ'i~~ ~.tl1¢ ~,u;:nts th<lt ha~~ lln the morning
•.., ....\ ·1 ·.,, ·;o
ol ....:.: :, pn .;,.){1~.
.

(b)(6), (b)(3)

Wcrtpons Comp.!11y. 2d &rt.a:iiori. Sm. M.:i:rh~es

\Vh,.nes.s:
(b)(6), (b)(3)

Judge .·\d:vocme, 1d Bi'iualfon. 8tl1 MJtrn!ies

)
/ l
l
 (b)(6)

(b)(6)

Police Station
4/23/2008

'the sta tern~nt ot (b)(6) in.

regards to the explosion that occtu:rE:d on the gat~ of the
station on 4/22/2008

Question 1: Explain to us your position during the time

of the explosion and what is.your duty?
Answer; r was on the fir.st floor in the station, and my
duty is to guard the station's pxison.

Question 2: Explain to us h(}1,t w~.r~ you hitJ ~nd what is

your information in regards tq the exp10-!$icn?

.
)) Answer: I was standing at the ,:movement rtmm' sJ doc:r at
about 07: 4 5. (b)(6), (b)(3) a.l,~q ~how$.q µp ftoni the othe~
side, :t entered the hall that's bet\~j~n the iri'lf~stlg~tion
room# and the jeiil rQom.,. anq that's wher-e :my quty i..s.

hH1d to the destruction of the

were in the :Hrst flooz;:. I was h;it .a11d injured! i:tY the
wooden shrapnel, and I co1.1ld not· pull my.i:u~lf from
i.Hlderneat;h the wooden ruppl~ t;h>':lt I. w~s ~oi!ered py. After
this (b)(6) ~.a.me. albnff and h.~lpe¢, ·~ .fl'.'e:e .
myself fro:r.'l underneath tche wood:en ·rubble. Afb:.u:- this t
was sent t.a the hospital.

Answer: No other IP's were with me at the time, .::>nly (b)(6)

(b)(6) who was stand.ing in the :mtnretnEtnt ro,om and
that's where hi::. duty is.
Question 4: Were you able to identify the V.ehicle
(VBEID}?

Answer: No because l wai;; .inside the Fiall at the time of

the explosion.
)
 Answer: ~o I do not and this is my testimony.

(b)(6)

4/23/2008 4/23/2008
Signed Sign~d

)
 (b)(6)

(b)(6)

Police Station
4/23/200€·
(b)(6)
The statement of the watch of Heer of the station
(b)(6) in regards to the VBIED at the
entrance of the building station on 4/22/2008.
Que::;tion 1: As the watch officer of the station where
were yoi;:t at the time of the elieplosion incid.ent?

Answer: The ttioment of the explosion1 I was s.itting down

in Aid' s t'.O(}m Sl):pervising a .shift chang,e where we were
getting read::t td conduct morning attendance and
accountably. And with lTu1i! we:re (b)(6)
(b)(6) and
oth~rs that I can"t remember.

Question 2: Before the explo:sio:n what; procedur~s did you,

take and especially in .rega;i;;ds to opening tl1~ check point
and distributing IP' s according to thei:r: a;s~J.gl".Jr,ent-s?

Answe~: A;;i usual l distributect the :tl?" s 911, the Scfiya

checkpoint and the foot traffic checkpoint that's at the
intersection that; s near th~ eht!i:'.'Gn¢e of the ,station.
And aft~r thi$ (b)(6), (b)(3) wh0 is trbro tbe CF c;aw."tHI!, over to
me and thanked me for opening th~ cluickpo.int a.nd the
dist-ribution of at:lsigi",m~nte.

Question 3: ii.:'ho were the IiP' s that were assign{;:d to the

checkpoint th.at1 s at the intersection n!:!en: th~ ~titran-:::e
gate of the station?

Answer: (b)(6)
(b)(6) and at the gate guard was (b)(6)
(b)(6)

Question 4 ! What ate your; coiom~nts in regards to the

incident?

Answer a: My comm,~nt woilld ht;, the IP" s at the inters~ct:ion

~ccupied by civilian tr.si;f'fic, and th~lil not paying
attention to vehicle mova'!'llents ..
 Answer: No and. this is my testimony,

(b)(6)

4/2t]/2DOB 4/24/200:S
Signed Signed

\J'
 (b)(6)

r,~d. a pa.rki..r~::J Vic1.lati¢n ·t:Jtr~-r to :th·e

r·h~ (:d':~t:c:kpo.::.nt ne:at t:h·e i~n·t·.ers.~ct.iorJ
<:tr i. ;;ti!i::, r1..rcn~d :,-:e,: my :~~yor. ~c tht'it .end
<>vex its t~ur .cNt
I. b~c·a;n~ cdi:
.s"t,tl t .l(Jt)"

:('l~; ,.:.,,..~f:;:v"<,r"!'. • trh~t:1 l L.,,d lot.dl y ! wh:i 1 B

t0we;r-ct t.he ~-t~J,ti-r;;.n} ilJ'e;~;;' 'l:;. Q :;'w€/· we;~ (b)(6)
it V!il1fi ~row.d.ad. r
)
- )
t•.:e·:;i.pc#n Hi:1 s;J<'i'Vie ;i t
¥ .!f;,,S, .;;n1d I s.tairted t:;;
from nd iincl 2,,t t;he gt:~rd
~J~C ~ ft t,~.t?t:Od to t't,w
~attt. t·b.~ ~!sC·p1·~:J$iOi:l

~..:h.~ car:
A1i3: t L \1,:iS CZ'lm.£:l'.ifr f ;:~ .A.l. H~.q ch~c:"~ .pui.r:.t't-
8 ~4'.C i.,;,n, !t w:as 4 ~eri:'li&des ..rat-er r:a1:ik ttuck
cab1r, was .a hlu~ ccl0t aE.q

"Vi~ lij,.s (i~'.$·C!i_pti~rn"'f

P.~h:4: .:. :.:-;;u··ldt: 7 .. 't a·e~ him b~ca.11:&e: t4,ib~1:1 r g-aV:1& a.'t·tent~._;:Lr-t:J, h,~· $i\!;.l$

itJh() w:a$ 1(fi.th 1:0~ ·;:roH\ tJ)lt;t IP,,s qt ti':re·

do.i-rrg?
sr1:;·: 'ttie .r~1 :S- -Whii~ wer ~ wi.t"h rtt~ ;.,
(b)(6)

)
 (b)(6)

(b)(6)

Police Station
4/23/200B

The Statement of (b)(6) in

regards to the VB!ED incident at the entr,'i'l.nce of the
station building on 4/22/2008.

Question 1: Explain to us your position during: th.e time

of the explosion and what is your duty?

Answer; l was at the road intersection in front of the.

entrance to the station, and my duty is to search all
foot traffic that is headin,g towards the station., the
explosion occtu::red at 07 :45.

Question .2: How did the VBIED enter t:ne s.ta:tit:lin$ entrance
with your pres enc~ in the Av and heiw did you dea.1 with
the situ.i!ition?

Answer: When the Vehi1::le ent.eried the building'$: entrance

I and (b)(6) were oc'cl,lpi~d with
tr:<>m the
searching proce..s.s ¢if foot traffJc. W-e · n,9tJ.ee.i:l .it
calls of (b)(6) B~ was-~!>kingus for a
weapon due to th~ fact that his dµty })Our,$ wilh oyer· witf)
and he had no weapon on hL.11. And when we turn~d and
headed toward the ~te1t,ion I gave my w~a,~011 t;C> (b)(6)
because I could not use it in a difect manner due to th~
many civilians· at th~ ChEJtCK point .. At. this p¢irrt (b)(6)

f~;:
atid (b)(6)

1
started b6 fire rounds tow;irr:cf the v1;;:hiGle
$:i!}llit-Ai1"'.1,'~~t~,;s:~~:+"m0~~nt,;;,;~'.~?M1.iwil,~§1~~}'ii,!

Questio·n 3: What ie your info:tmatic:ti on the d.esiC:tiptio:n

of the veJi.icle, the suiciqe bombei::: wnq was ;;;;tr.±·v,fng it and
what direction did it cq:me fronf?

Answer: The vehicle was a MEircedes tanker truck (water

tanker) the color was blue., the tank itself was white the
paint on it was old and decayed there wQ.o· spots that were
· f ?.:1::H::1 of paint.
As far as the suicide bomber that W;;lS driving it, ! could
not see him due to the fact that the vi!!hicle ·entered
 before I paid attention to it, and it was coming from th.e
farm road because it came at a high speed and if it had
come from another direction it would have had to stop and
i t would have been not easy and hard for the driver to
make the turn.

Question 1= Who from the 1l?'s was with you at the check
point in th.e intersection at the entrance of the St9tion?

/1..nswer; At the ti.me with rr.~ was. (b)(6)

(b)(6) (b)(6)
and
sufferd (b)(6) injury as he was firing at the vehicle,

Question 5; Wier:e any of the civilians that. wet'.e at the

Check point injured?

quest.ion 6: Do you hav;e any other stat~ments?

Answer: No and this is my testimony.

(b)(6)
),
., J
' 4/24/2008 4/24/2006
Signed Sigrt~d

)
Pages 12 through 17 redacted for the following reasons:
----------------------------
(b)(6)
 (b)(6)

(b)(6)

Police Station
4/23/2008
(b)(6)
The Statement of in
regaxd:s to the VBIED at: the en.trance of the station
building on 4/22/2008,

Question 1: Where were you at the time o.f the incident

and what is your duty?
Answer: At 'the mcmient of the e;.:pl;osion I was in the
movement's room and my duty ;is t::qmmunications/~ovem$:hts.

Question 2: Were you able.to see the vehicle before it

exploded and how it ente:ted till until it'exploded at the
g·ate of the st:iiltion?
\
)\,
f
Answer: At 07:45 using the camer~oS 1 was abl~ to see a
' Mercedes water tilllker the colorwa$ blu~, and th.e
water tank itself wa$ whit.e. $;'hli9'-li
:rat.e·· of 2 :.,~:Si"'~t,t:e,ltfil~"ilt'~,~'iMa~tt-1;;,ao~,t~
at·· ,ttle> ·g;~te>:,:H:;:a,~t;~;~:;:r'Jf:i'~:i.®Jll1f ~~;J:4.;t;;~W~~,j;~~t;;.i;:~n. I aJ,S;o heard
other rounds 'being fb:eo from the gu4t::ds that: we+e at the
intersection a~ the vehicle ,app1::o,'1aohe'd the- gate i t
expl~dedr and the ca;meras s:topp~d 'wt:i:rld.ng du:e to th~
explo$ion, the winct,w1s shat.ter:e;d and .9,cat.t~r.e,d. i,nsi;de the
:movement'~ room, mysei.t and th~ 'Amlft.':1..;::an sdl'cl:ie,i;- who ,1as
sitting neixt to me. we.re .i;nj1.1red· a:es .,/1 resn,:;lt of th;:is.

Quest.:ton 3: Did th~ poli ce~an. at th~ g~t'f!,f op~n fi,:r.e

towards the WBIED'?

Answ,e,r: NO! A.'lld this i::t clu:ie to th~ f,;1.ct that he ,wa~
behind the g:at.e and he had no vi~w or ,,an ope:ning wher,e he
can fire :from. A.:"1d r s~w hi.Ir, Wi t:Jld:t:a-w;:i,ng toward~ t.h,~
station due to the fact that the vehicle was speeding
towards the gate, AND 'l'H.E OTH~R FllUl:lG
····· AND
~

WHEN IT EXPLODED THE RUBBLE ' ,.. '' ,,,,, ''

AND AFTER THIS Bf; WA$ ?Ul;L~,D illO~ iJ.NOi:RNEATB THE:, JHJB&LE.

Quei3tion 4: Did you see any details on th~ ca.<ie•ta of the

) suicide driver's face'?
j )
)
.i\nswer; No due to the fact that ,-.tas view en camera was at
a distance and not a close up.

Question 5: Were you tel.ken to the hospital so you can be

treated?
An~w~r: No I rafusad, I stayed with the rest of the IP*a
inside the station and later on I w,ent f-0r treatment.

Question 6: Do ycu have any other statements?

Answer! No and this is my testimony.

(b)(6)

4/24/2008 4/24/2008
Signed . Signed

)
j
 (b)(6), (b)(3)

Ot1 22 April 200ft 11rt;1.md 0600 l was (!fl my ,,,;\~ !i'I t.1kc tl'iy pt1$t lt the Apple
VCP. Oh the way \mtJ ~ Cmpvrai Jt,00:thanYHle tn:posi. tAi'..bt) l. '.H~ w~shehin<l'Uk
wf,2'49 on his post. l w~m 1Jttt ID fut: $1.~'ti;h lane aii.d be:~ 1ilf ~51- At !ITUW!il tfi45. a
SVBl:ED am1cked JSS N~sar. J do n;:tt recmcJnher m~h.atter ~ 11:~,1ltosiffl'1.
'fo the ~stolmy lle~oH~t1d..}n. thcs!;l ~'e thet:v~ th~i~i"lt.'d 001hclttt')miag
o;f 22 April 2008, .

(b)(6), (b)(3)

\v~~~ Cu,'llpliny. 2d Bmtmion, mh Nlzmni:,;

Wi~ss:
(b)(6), (b)(3)

1'1ld!,elt! Adv~re, 2d 8at~Hmt !SU'! :'<--'lllii'n.e$

)
 1.9 May 2008

Statement of Major General John F. Kelly USMC

In support of the Navy cross recommendations in the cases of
Corporal Jonathan T Yale USMC and Lance Corporal Jordan C. Haerter USMC

The following statement is a compilation of events from my

personal interview of several Iraqi policemen, viewing of a video tape
of the entire event captured by the Joint security Station's (JSS)
security camera, and walking the site.

At 0745C on 22 April 2 008; Joint Security Station (JSS) Nasser,

Ramadi, Iraq, was attacked by a very large truck bomb with an estimated
explosive weight of over 2,000 lbs. The truck was driven by a suicide
bomber who was consumed in the blast. At the time two battalions, i•t
Battalion 9th Marines and 2nd Battalion 9th Marines were conducting a
relief in place at JSS Nasser. The JSS by its nature also housed a
relatively large number of Iraqi police. At the time of the attack two
Marines, Corporal Jonathan T Yale and Lanc.e Corporal Jordan c. Haerter
were standing post at the entry control point (ECP) along with two
.. )) Iraqi policemen. At least eight other Iraqi policemen were also on
duty about 60m away at the intersection (Routes Apple and Sophia) of a
busy city street, and the entrc1.nce alley to the JS.S in the Sophia
District of Ramadi.

Without warning a Mercedes tank truck made the turn and

immediately accelerated negotiating the serpentine careening towards
the entryway of the JSS compound. The Marines undoubtedly u:nderstood
immediately what was taking place as they went straight to the guns
without any escalation of force firing continuously until the truck
lurched to a stop just outside the compound's gate, and literally a few
feet from the Marines, when it detonated. Both Marin.es were killed
still firing their weapons. Three Marines were also wounded over 1.00m
from the event, as were at least eight Iraqi offic.e~s and 24 civilians.
A nearby mosque and house were both destroyed, with a number of other
houses suffering significant damage. The blast crater measured 20 feet
in diameter and five feet deep. At the time of the attack, and because
of the ongoing relief in place, there were over 50 Marines on site with
a similar number of Iraqi police officers. It was only due to the
bravery of the two Marines that a catastrophe was averted, but that is
exactly why they were there to prevent such a bomb from entering the
compound and they did exactly that.

When interviewing several pol.ice officers separately on 25 April

at the JSS they all told essentially the same story. When the truck
turned down the entryway to the JSS the tip off that it was not an
innocent delivery was that it accelerated through the concrete Jersey
walls. The Marines on station immediately began to fire then some of
the police joined in. One of the officers made the point that no sane
man would have stood there and fired-yet two men did.. Another said he
knew the Marines were crazy (he meant fearless I think), but this was
beyond what he'd seen Marines do even when he was fighting us as an
insurgent two years before. A third who was no more than 15 feet from
the two Marines when the truck turned into the alley ran to safety in
the few seconds it took the truck to negotiate the 60m to the gate
(caught on tape). He survived. He told me when he observed the truck
accelerating and the Marines firing he ran but the Marines did not.
All were in agreement that if the Marines had not stood their ground to
their de.aths the truck would have wiped out the JSS and everyone in it.

Subsequent to my taking these interviews I viewed a video of the

entire event captured py our surveillance camera at the entryway of the
JCC. IL Luuk Beve.tal uclyi:; Lu fu.tem;lt:c1.lly .t.et:uve.t llle lme1.ye1.,; f.t.um Lhe
badly damaged camera. I did not know either one of these heroes, but I
have known thousands like them in my career. They will do anything we
ask them to do-even to their deaths. Like the police officers they
could have run and likely survived, but ciid not. I do not thin."I{: anyone
would have called them cowards if they had. They took seriously the
duties and responsibilities of a Marine on post, and stood their ground
before they would allow anyone or anything to pass. For their
dedication they lost their lives. Because they did what they did only
two families had their hearts broken on 22 April, rather than as many
as 50. These families will never know how truly close they came to a
knock on the door that night.

\,_? ~~~~-;
HN F. KELLY
al, U.S. Marine Corps
anding General
! I Marine itionary Force {Forward) ·