On Apr. 22, 2008, Cpl. Jonathan Yale and Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter — two Marines from different units who had never met before that day — had just begun their shift at an entry control point at a joint security station in Ramadi along with Iraqi policemen.
Minutes later, they were staring down a big blue truck packed with explosives. With this particular shred of hell bearing down on them, they stood their ground.
The Marines immediately recognized the truck as a VBIED [Vehicle-borne improvised explosive device], stood in its path and began shooting. As the Iraqis around them fled, they leaned in, unloading their weapons. The truck stopped just short of the two Marines and detonated, killing them both instantly.