SJ423: Celebrating the life of Corporal Jonathan T. Yale.
WHEREAS, United States Marine Corps Corporal Jonathan T. Yale of the small town of Burkeville in Nottoway County died heroically in the line of duty on April 22, 2008, while valiantly serving his country in Anbar Province, Iraq; and
WHEREAS, an energetic and athletic young man, Jonathan Yale was actively involved in Prince Edward County High School’s Outdoor Club, Drama Club, Robotics Club, and the competition cheerleading team; he also enjoyed skateboarding and paintball with his friends; and
WHEREAS, Jonathan Yale was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before he was sent to Anbar Province, Iraq, with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force; and
WHEREAS, on the morning of April 22, 2008, Corporal Yale was guarding the gate to joint Marine-Iraqi headquarters, Joint Security Station Nasser in Ramadi, when a truck came toward the gate; when the truck began increasing in speed, Corporal Yale and fellow Marine Lance Corporal Jordan C. Haerter shouted for the truck to stop; and
WHEREAS, when the truck did not stop, but continued to increase in speed, weaving between the concrete barriers, the two Marines chose to fearlessly stand their ground and fire their weapons at the truck to stop it from passing through the gate into the compound; and
WHEREAS, only a few dozen feet from the gate, the suicide bomber detonated the truck, which was filled with 2,000 pounds of explosives; and
WHEREAS, the security camera tape retrieved showed that Corporal Yale did not flinch and did not stop firing his weapon at the approaching vehicle; and
WHEREAS, the determination and sacrifice of Corporal Yale saved the lives of 33 Marines and 21 Iraqi police inside the compound as well as numerous Iraqi civilians outside and around the compound; and
WHEREAS, Corporal Yale will posthumously receive the Navy Cross, the second highest award for combat bravery for the United States Marine Corp and United States Navy, for his heroic, honorable, and brave actions and sacrifice for his fellow Marines and the Iraqi police and people; and
WHEREAS, Corporal Yale leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving family, numerous friends, and fellow Marines; and
WHEREAS, Corporal Jonathan Yale’s death is a reminder of the hazards faced daily by the thousands of Americans who serve in our armed forces overseas and whose devotion to duty places them in harm’s way; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a courageous and patriotic Virginian, Corporal Jonathan T. Yale; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Corporal Jonathan T. Yale as an expression of the high regard in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly and the citizens of Virginia.
WHEREAS, United States Marine Corps Corporal Jonathan T. Yale of the small town of Burkeville in Nottoway County died heroically in the line of duty on April 22, 2008, while valiantly serving his country in Anbar Province, Iraq; and
WHEREAS, an energetic and athletic young man, Jonathan Yale was actively involved in Prince Edward County High Schools Outdoor Club, Drama Club, Robotics Club, and the competition cheerleading team; he also enjoyed skateboarding and paintball with his friends; and
WHEREAS, Jonathan Yale was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before he was sent to Anbar Province, Iraq, with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force; and
WHEREAS, on the morning of April 22, 2008, Corporal Yale was guarding the gate to joint Marine-Iraqi headquarters, Joint Security Station Nasser in Ramadi, when a truck came toward the gate; when the truck began increasing in speed, Corporal Yale and fellow Marine Lance Corporal Jordan C. Haerter shouted for the truck to stop; and
WHEREAS, when the truck did not stop, but continued to increase in speed, weaving between the concrete barriers, the two Marines chose to fearlessly stand their ground and fire their weapons at the truck to stop it from passing through the gate into the compound; and
WHEREAS, the suicide bomber detonated the truck, which was filled with 2,000 pounds of explosives, a few dozen feet from the gate; and
WHEREAS, the security camera tape retrieved showed that Corporal Yale did not flinch and did not stop firing his weapon at the approaching vehicle; and
WHEREAS, the determination and sacrifice of Corporal Yale saved the lives of 33 Marines and 21 Iraqi police inside the compound as well as numerous Iraqi civilians outside and around the compound; and
WHEREAS, Corporal Yale will posthumously receive the Navy Cross, the second highest award for combat bravery for the U.S. Marine Corp and U.S. Navy, for his heroic, honorable, and brave actions and sacrifice for his fellow Marines and the Iraqi police and people; and
WHEREAS, Corporal Yale leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving family, numerous friends, and fellow Marines; and
WHEREAS, Corporal Jonathan Yales death is a reminder of the hazards faced daily by the thousands of Americans who serve in our armed forces overseas and whose devotion to duty places them in harms way; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a courageous and patriotic Virginian, Corporal Jonathan T. Yale; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Corporal Jonathan T. Yale as an expression of the high regard in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly and the citizens of Virginia.