Message from Marines

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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
1st Sgt. Dave Jobe

I do not know Sgt. Jobe and neither does the friend who sent pic and info. She got it from a friend who got it from a friend and so on ... ordinarily I prefer more personalized pics - felt this rated its own page anyway. I would appreciate any details and help letting Baker Company know we care too.

Thanks! MarthaJones1@aol.com - Please use WAR in subject line.

*Use this link to look up your local newspapers: http://www.ipl.org/div/news/ (then click on "contact us"). As I said, I do not know Sgt. Jobe or the person who originally received the pic and note. I already asked the first two friends if they had any other info.

More support pages including a variety of contact links are listed on military index: http://www.therealmartha.com/WAR/index.htm

Aha! Thanks to Joyce ... the rest of the story follows. I copied from posts on http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/980888/posts

The photo made it on Sean Hannity's website! Click the link below. Also, please see below another email (also from Hannity's website) telling a little more about the story behind the photo tribute.

http://www.hannity.com/story.php?content=/support_photo_exhibit#exhibits/

Corresponding Letter from Baker Company
From: Mindy Schoenmaker
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 8:54 AM
To: =ALL OFFICE STAFF
Subject: Personal: "We remember" from Iraq

Good morning everyone. I wanted to share this email and photograph with you all. My brother sent this to me from Iraq. The email below explains the photograph. Feel free to pass this along to anyone you like. It is such a good way today to remember all those who paid the ulitmate sacrifice on September 11th as well as those who continue to sacrifice daily to protect our freedom. Thank you for your continued support! -- Mindy

Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 04:50:15
All,

I hate mass emails. However, I wanted to share this photograph with all of you at once. The CO and I were talking the other day about taking a picture on September 11th so we could put it in the cruise book when we got home. It was just supposed to signify that we were still in Iraq. I told him I thought it was a great idea but that I thought we should spell out a message and send it to the press. I had a couple of suggestions but this is the one he liked the most. We took the picture on the 9th of September and have sent it via email to every major publisher in the United States. I mean everyone...the NY Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Time....they all have so maybe someone will print it.

It is in remembrance of those that gave the ultimate sacrafice on September 11th, and the reason that no matter how long we are here we will continue to push and never forget why we serve.

I hope you enjoy. Please feel free to share this with anyone you want. The picture is of my company, Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. It contains every member of my unit in country...over 160 personnel. The 9-11 is spelled out in a symbolic tribute to our fallen comrades. The symbolic tribute is an M16 rifle with fixed bayonet inverted into the ground with the Kevlar Helmet resting on top. Old Glory is held by four Marines in the company that lost friends and family from NY on 9-11. The words speak for themselves. Enjoy......

I love and miss you all, and we will be home soon.

Drew

OK, as Drew said above, share with anyone. He mentioned several major publications but that doesn't mean you can't still send to local papers. And don't worry somebody else may have already sent. Sometimes it takes more than a few submissions to get attention.

http://www.coolourtroops.com/photo_gallery/main.htm#jobe - Pics of Sgt. Jobe and more

Naturally all remarks on the pic have been positive. This, from Sue W., takes the overall feeling a step further, "Just amazing. Imagine, being in Iraq, amid all that strife and ugliness, pain and sorrow and, still, taking precious time to do such a thing. Quite tear-jerking, I must say."

http://www.therealmartha.com/Freedom/index.htm - "Freedom isn't cheap" - a message to protesters from a soldier's wife (Joyce, who find the pic info) and more, including reader comments

Check out Military Mom Sharon's Halloween: http://www.geocities.com/cmos2111/marinehalloween.html - includes links for her great collection of tribute and support pages

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Adopt a soldier: http://www.oasamerica.org/ - go to OAS news for contact details. "With several thousand members, OAS is today one of - if not the - biggest private operated non-commercial support organization for service men and woman on the Internet."

I found my adopted K9 unit through OAS: http://www.therealmartha.com/WARK9/index.htm My guys have since gone different directions making it a little difficult to keep track and in touch. However, as far as I know, most of their e-mail addresses are still good. Check out a variety of contact/support site links listed there too.