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This letter was written for presentation to Baker Company at their Quantico reunion. Gene Hovatter, who had been Company Commander of Able Company in Korea, had planned to attend but other commitments prevented it. Unfortunately, Gene died shortly after the Toledo reunion. MESSAGE FOR BAKER ONE SEVEN You were one of the finest combat rifle companies in the 1st Marine Division. Before, during and after, the Chosin campaign, you always carried more than your share of the load. Throughout the Chosin camping, you remained a viable fighting force in spite of the loss of key leaders, both officers and NCOs. Most companies that lost two commanders, the caliber of my old friends Myron Wilcox and Joe Kurcala, plus two great Marine warriors, Kurt Lee and Joe Owens, would have folded their tents and ceased to be effective fighting units. Not Baker. When Kurcala was killed, and Kurt and Joe severely wounded, you had a young reserve Lieutenant – Woody Taylor – who stepped forward and did a tremendous job. I am not “blowing smoke” Baker was for real, and deserves recognition as a great rifle company. When Able Company lost Lieutenant Frank Mitchell, not only his platoon, but also the entire company, was emotionally drained. Had we lost Jack Boles and/or Bobbie Bradley, or other key officer or NCO leaders immediately following Mitch’s death, I refuse to speculate regarding the effects on Able. I doubt we would have been effective for some time. I have never seen Marines as devoted to their officers as ours were. I’m sure the same measure of devotion existed in Baker. Fortunately, after Mitch’s death, Baker stepped forward on November 27 and gave us a respite – time to lick our wounds and heal. My hat was off to baker that day, and I regretted your loss of so many fine Marines. When we finally fought our way south into Chinhung-ni, I was almost as proud of baker as of my own company Able. As you may know, we of able Company feel we were, and still are, a notch above other companies, including Baker. I expect you feel the same way about your company. Therefore, I challenge baker to field enough worriers at our next reunion to match our strength. That would enable us to have an arm wrestling contest, beer drinking and lie telling contest (or some other form of mortal combat suitable for old coots) To settle this issue for all time. I did not propose this in Toledo because we outnumbered you at least two to one. These odds would have been greater than the 20 to 1 you often faced in Korea. Have a great reunion – May God Bless You all. Gene Hovatter
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