Based: Camp Pendleton
Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: April 13, 2006
Karmah, Iraq
Married
Gender: Male
Hometown: Chula Vista
High School: Chula Vista Senior High (Chula Vista)
Burial: Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier
From Chula Vista:
Salem Bachar was born in Chula Vista on 24 June 1985. Salem was active in sports while attending Chula Vista High School, particularly in wrestling and tennis. He was also on the track team and played several musical instruments, and enjoyed magic. He graduated in 2003 and a few months later, on October 14th, joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
He joined the United States Marine Corps in the fall of 2003, went to Defense Language school studying Arabic, and became a translator and intelligence analyst for the Marine Corps. In addition to English and Arabic, he also spoke Spanish.
Corporal Salem Bachar, USMC of Chula Vista was killed due to enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq on April 13 along with Cpl Stephen J. Perez, aged 22.
A memorial was held at Camp Fallajujah on 17 April, 2006. Cpl. Salem Bachar died April 12 as a result of enemy action while operating in Al Anbar Province.
He served as an intelligence analyst and Arabic translator during his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Approximately 200 Marines, sailors and soldiers attended the memorial service at Camp Fallujah’s Chapel of Hope. Before the service, many lined up to hand-write messages to Bachar.
“Cpl. Bachar, you always had a smile and a joke even at the worst of times,” one message read. “It was an honor to know you and I cherish the time we had.”
Bachar’s death was especially hard and unexpected for the Marines and sailors who worked closely with him.
“He chose to make a difference with his life, first by becoming a Marine, second by putting himself in danger, and finally by becoming a memory to those that knew him,”
said Cpl. Adam G. Wanjon, a friend of Bachar and fellow intelligence analyst. “I willingly carry the memory of him in my heart until the day we meet again.”
Col. Peter H. Devlin, assistant chief of staff for Bachar’s battalion, never expected to lose one of his intelligence Marines.
“Today is very difficult for me,” said Devlin. “He was an absolute pleasure to work with, and it was an honor to get to know him and to serve with him.”
He is survived by his wife, Kristine, his parents, Fouad and Martha, and two twin sisters of Fontana, CA. He was buried at Rosehill Memorial Park at Whittier, CA on 22 April, 2006.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service deployment Ribbon. [See Corporal Bachar's ribbons here.]
Find more about Marine Corporal Salem Bachar at Iraq Page, at Fallen Heroes, at the
Visit Corporal Bachar's Guest Book.
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Lance Cpl. Stephen J. Perez
Rest In Peace
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