Honor and remembrance on Memorial Day
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
On a day in which those who died in active military service are remembered, Ohio Society Sons of the American Revolution Secretary Col. Donald C. McGraw, Jr. (ret.) delivered the keynote address at the Highland County Veterans Memorial at the Highland County Courthouse in Hillsboro on Monday, May 30.
Colonel McGraw was commissioned in the U.S. Army Field Artillery from the United States Military Academy in 1979. He spent 14 months in 2005 and 2006 as the Director of Operations, CJ-3, for Combined Forces Command – Afghanistan and spent the remainder of his commissioned service as the Director for Afghanistan Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Colonel McGraw retired from the U.S. Army in July 2009.
On this Memorial Day, the colonel shared the heroic story of Cpl. Jonathan Yale and Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter, both of whom were posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for their efforts on April 22, 2008, in Ramadi, Iraq.
In the early morning hours of April 22, 2008, Cpl. Yale and Cpl. Haerter were manning a post gate. Cpl. Yale was a rifleman with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, and was about to return home with his unit. Cpl. Haerter was a rifleman with the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, and had just arrived in Ramadi for a seven-month tour two days earlier. It was the first deployment for each Marine.
Colonel McGraw spoke of the final six seconds of their respective lives as they stood their ground against an approaching enemy truck.
The colonel watched the security video of their heroic actions – actions that saved many lives.
"No sane man would do what they did," Colonel McGraw said to hundreds gathered outside the Highland County Courthouse on a warm, sunny Memorial Day.
"A blue truck stopped at their post, detonated, and killed them both. Their actions saved more than 50 of their brothers in arms. These two Marines didn't have it in their DNA to run," Colonel McGraw said.
Cpl. Haerter, firing an M-16, and Cpl. Yale, firing a machine gun, shot steadily at the suicide truck speeding its way to their post. Everyone knew what it was. The Marines continued their fire; finally, the truck slowed and stopped. And then – loaded with 2,000 pounds of explosives – it blew up.
Col. McGraw said Cpl. Haerter and Cpl. Yale had a total of six seconds to react after the suicide bomber's truck appeared in front of their gate.
Three Marines, eight Iraqi officers and 24 civilians were injured. But only Cpl. Haerter and Cpl. Yale – still firing their weapons when the truck exploded – were killed.
"They were doing their job," said Maj. Mike Wilonsky, Cpl. Haerter’s battalion commander. "The fact they did their jobs saved the lives of over 50 Iraqis and Marines."
"I want you to know that these are the kind of people you have on watch for you all over the world today," Col. McGraw said. "These young Americans who are willing to look beyond their own self-interests."
Col. McGraw also acknowledged the responsibility that all Americans have to be worthy of the sacrifices by people like Cpl. Jonathan Yale and Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter.
In addition, Col. McGraw spoke of all the Gold Star families who have lost loved ones in service of their country, and the dreaded "knock on the door."
"As soon as they see who it is, they know," the colonel said.
He also referenced the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, a World War I cemetery in France. The cemetery contains the largest number of American military dead in Europe (14,246), most of whom lost their lives during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and were buried there.
In addition to thanking local veterans for their service Col. McGraw also acknowledged all law enforcement professionals "who protect the nation."
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Col. McGraw was introduced by VFW Post 9094 Commander Rick Wilkin.
"We feel honored to have you here as our guest speaker," said Commander Wilkin, who annually serves as the master of ceremonies for Hillsboro's Memorial Day observance.
Following an opening prayer by Major Mac McCray, Wilkin introduced numerous guests, including the Hillsboro High School band and its director Kevin Grow, singer Alberta Duncan, members of local veterans organizations from the VFW, AmVets, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Highland County Honor Guard and Highland County Veterans Service Commission.
Other guest speakers included: Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings, who read a proclamation for Memorial Day, as did Highland County Commissioners Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan. Commission President Shane Wilkin also was in attendance.
Kevin Barreras spoke on behalf of the Highland County Veterans Service Commission. He also pointed out that of the 320 million living Americans, approximately 22 million have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. "That's less than 7 percent," Barreras said. "There are only 1.4 million active-duty military. That's less than half a percent."
Dwight Reynolds and David Pinney, assisted by Hillsboro Boy Scouts, conducted a flag-folding ceremony as Judy McCray read "Symbols for the Folds of the Flag." Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Pinney also led the wreath-laying ceremony at the Veterans Memorial. VFW Post 9094 Ladies Auxiliary President Sherry Mills read a poem in appreciation for all veterans. Support Our Troops Of Highland County also gave away two wreaths during the ceremony.
Russ Roever read a solemn presentation on behalf of all American prisoners of war and missing in action (POW-MIA) and reminded everyone in attendance that there was to be no applause following this ceremony.
In addition, patriotic music was provided by the Hillsboro High School band and Alberta Duncan.
All veterans in attendance were recognized as the HHS band played their respective branch of service's song:
• U.S. Coast Guard, “Semper Paratus;”
• U.S. Air Force, “The Air Force Song;”
• U.S. Navy, “Anchors Aweigh;”
• U.S. Army, “The Army Goes Rolling Along;” and,
• U.S. Marine Corps, “The Marine Corps Hymn.”
Following a 21-gun salute by the Highland County Honor Guard and the playing of "Taps," by Alberta Duncan, Commander Wilkin thanked all the veterans and volunteers, including the local Boy Scouts, Watson's Towing, and city and county officials, for assisting in the 2016 Memorial Day services. He closed by inviting everyone to the VFW Post 9094 for a Memorial Day lunch and a tour of the Highland House Museum.
Colonel McGraw was commissioned in the U.S. Army Field Artillery from the United States Military Academy in 1979. He spent 14 months in 2005 and 2006 as the Director of Operations, CJ-3, for Combined Forces Command – Afghanistan and spent the remainder of his commissioned service as the Director for Afghanistan Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Colonel McGraw retired from the U.S. Army in July 2009.
On this Memorial Day, the colonel shared the heroic story of Cpl. Jonathan Yale and Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter, both of whom were posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for their efforts on April 22, 2008, in Ramadi, Iraq.
In the early morning hours of April 22, 2008, Cpl. Yale and Cpl. Haerter were manning a post gate. Cpl. Yale was a rifleman with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, and was about to return home with his unit. Cpl. Haerter was a rifleman with the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, and had just arrived in Ramadi for a seven-month tour two days earlier. It was the first deployment for each Marine.
Colonel McGraw spoke of the final six seconds of their respective lives as they stood their ground against an approaching enemy truck.
The colonel watched the security video of their heroic actions – actions that saved many lives.
"No sane man would do what they did," Colonel McGraw said to hundreds gathered outside the Highland County Courthouse on a warm, sunny Memorial Day.
"A blue truck stopped at their post, detonated, and killed them both. Their actions saved more than 50 of their brothers in arms. These two Marines didn't have it in their DNA to run," Colonel McGraw said.
Cpl. Haerter, firing an M-16, and Cpl. Yale, firing a machine gun, shot steadily at the suicide truck speeding its way to their post. Everyone knew what it was. The Marines continued their fire; finally, the truck slowed and stopped. And then – loaded with 2,000 pounds of explosives – it blew up.
Col. McGraw said Cpl. Haerter and Cpl. Yale had a total of six seconds to react after the suicide bomber's truck appeared in front of their gate.
Three Marines, eight Iraqi officers and 24 civilians were injured. But only Cpl. Haerter and Cpl. Yale – still firing their weapons when the truck exploded – were killed.
"They were doing their job," said Maj. Mike Wilonsky, Cpl. Haerter’s battalion commander. "The fact they did their jobs saved the lives of over 50 Iraqis and Marines."
"I want you to know that these are the kind of people you have on watch for you all over the world today," Col. McGraw said. "These young Americans who are willing to look beyond their own self-interests."
Col. McGraw also acknowledged the responsibility that all Americans have to be worthy of the sacrifices by people like Cpl. Jonathan Yale and Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter.
In addition, Col. McGraw spoke of all the Gold Star families who have lost loved ones in service of their country, and the dreaded "knock on the door."
"As soon as they see who it is, they know," the colonel said.
He also referenced the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, a World War I cemetery in France. The cemetery contains the largest number of American military dead in Europe (14,246), most of whom lost their lives during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and were buried there.
In addition to thanking local veterans for their service Col. McGraw also acknowledged all law enforcement professionals "who protect the nation."
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Col. McGraw was introduced by VFW Post 9094 Commander Rick Wilkin.
"We feel honored to have you here as our guest speaker," said Commander Wilkin, who annually serves as the master of ceremonies for Hillsboro's Memorial Day observance.
Following an opening prayer by Major Mac McCray, Wilkin introduced numerous guests, including the Hillsboro High School band and its director Kevin Grow, singer Alberta Duncan, members of local veterans organizations from the VFW, AmVets, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Highland County Honor Guard and Highland County Veterans Service Commission.
Other guest speakers included: Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings, who read a proclamation for Memorial Day, as did Highland County Commissioners Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan. Commission President Shane Wilkin also was in attendance.
Kevin Barreras spoke on behalf of the Highland County Veterans Service Commission. He also pointed out that of the 320 million living Americans, approximately 22 million have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. "That's less than 7 percent," Barreras said. "There are only 1.4 million active-duty military. That's less than half a percent."
Dwight Reynolds and David Pinney, assisted by Hillsboro Boy Scouts, conducted a flag-folding ceremony as Judy McCray read "Symbols for the Folds of the Flag." Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Pinney also led the wreath-laying ceremony at the Veterans Memorial. VFW Post 9094 Ladies Auxiliary President Sherry Mills read a poem in appreciation for all veterans. Support Our Troops Of Highland County also gave away two wreaths during the ceremony.
Russ Roever read a solemn presentation on behalf of all American prisoners of war and missing in action (POW-MIA) and reminded everyone in attendance that there was to be no applause following this ceremony.
In addition, patriotic music was provided by the Hillsboro High School band and Alberta Duncan.
All veterans in attendance were recognized as the HHS band played their respective branch of service's song:
• U.S. Coast Guard, “Semper Paratus;”
• U.S. Air Force, “The Air Force Song;”
• U.S. Navy, “Anchors Aweigh;”
• U.S. Army, “The Army Goes Rolling Along;” and,
• U.S. Marine Corps, “The Marine Corps Hymn.”
Following a 21-gun salute by the Highland County Honor Guard and the playing of "Taps," by Alberta Duncan, Commander Wilkin thanked all the veterans and volunteers, including the local Boy Scouts, Watson's Towing, and city and county officials, for assisting in the 2016 Memorial Day services. He closed by inviting everyone to the VFW Post 9094 for a Memorial Day lunch and a tour of the Highland House Museum.