Marines Remembering MARINES!Ref:Message from Iraq

Internet e-mail from friend ^ | 12-13-2003 | Herb Planchock

[brattier]

Message from Iraq

The proud warriors of Baker Company wanted to do something to pay tribute To our fallen comrades. So since we are part of the only Marine Infantry Battalion left in Iraq the one way that we could think of doing that is By taking a picture of Baker Company saying the way we feel. It would be awesome if you could find a way to share this with our fellow countrymen. I was wondering if there was any way to get this into your papers to let the world know that "WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN" and are proud to serve our country." Semper Fi 1stSgt Dave Jobe

[brattier]

As we have seen from the beginning the tinasity of Americans to prevail over tirany has not faultered. These men in baker company stand in afirmation of this. God speed 1st Sgt Jobe and I as a former Marine salute you and all that serve this nation and the world for freedom, Let us not forget 9-11 as shown above and from the e-mail I received from my friend I have posted and placed his letter and photograph on my web site at http://brattier.com Semper Fi!

[opbuzz]

I don't think there has been a Baker company since Korea.

My Dad was in Baker company then.

Now it's called Bravo company.

[RaceBannon]

I heard this BAKER company stuff, too, this must be an internet hoax

[VOA]

I heard this BAKER company stuff, too, this must be an internet hoax

Help out the naive civilians, please.

1. Why would there not be a "Baker Company", apparently since the Korean War?

2. Why a switch to "Bravo Company"? (to avoid confusion with personnel
named Baker?)

[A.A. Cunningham]

There are several versions of the phonetic alphabet; b can be pronounced bravo or baker just as e can be pronounced easy or echo, z can be pronounced zulu or zebra, etc. In this case the unit probably selected to be identified as Baker instead of Bravo to distinguish themselves from those who fought so valiantly in WWII and Korea.

911 Tribute from Marines (Baker Company) in Iraq (my title)

IRAQ DEPLOYMENT PHOTO GALLERIES

Looking down from a water tower in AN Najaf, Iraq, 164 Marines of Baker Company First Battalion Seventh Marines pay their respects to all of their fellow Americans that payed the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. First Battalion, Seventh Marines was the last remaining Marine Infantry Battalion in Iraq fighting the war on terrorism. Photo by: 1stLt Kyle Pirnat

Marine link

1st Battalion 7th Marines

[Captain Rhino]

VOA,

The United States armed forces use the phonetic alphabet for letter designations:

A = alpha, B = Bravo, C = Charlie, etc.

The use of Bravo (vice Baker) came into use sometime during the late 1950 - early 1960's, hence the comment about there not being a "Baker" company since the Korean War. Since the photograph at the website link looks authentic, I'm alittle mystified by 1stSgt Jobe's (the author of the email from Iraq) use of "Baker" to refer to his company. (Bravo Company is a perfectly good designator long in use. OTOH, you'll find no Company "J" in the force structure because the phoentic designator for J is...you guessed it, Juliet and no self-respecting infantryMAN is going to be a member of "Juliet Company." It would draw way too much gratuitous fire - especially when you screwed up. Sorry for the sexism but those are the practical facts of the matter.) Perhaps Baker is what they like to refer to themselves as. BTW, Marine rifle companies are properly referred to as Company "B", 1st Battalion, XX Marine Regiment, XX Marine Division (where the XX's refer to the appropriate regiment and division number).

[brattier]

Is nothing personal to me however as you have been taught by the teachings below a unit can designate it,s call sign as all units in any combat do as respect for past and or present. BUT! The important message from this isn,t the name of the unit but the people, Names and Faces of the few, The Proud, The MARINES who can appreciate why they are there. THEY HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN apparently you have and this is why they bring this message about.

[brattier]

Thank you for this post, I appreciate the added information of this tribute,Semper Fi!

[opbuzz]

Yes there are different variants, but there is only one variant used.

My Dad was in a unit they called "Bakers Bandits" in Korea. But the old phonetic alphabet was scrapped after Korea. I haven't heard a reliable reason for the description as Baker Company. The official USMC designation is B Company, which phonetically is Bravo. Perhaps they are honoring former Marines.

[A.A. Cunningham]

but there is only one variant used.

Incorrect. Particularly in the FMF.

[cpl. jones Eco 2-8]

Who gives a flip about bravo or November or Hotel? Im looking at the pic and you can tell those are surely our brothers. So Teufel Hunden, keep fighting the good fight