In a few weeks, Company B of Battalion 89 from the "The Beard" (8) Reserve Brigade, nicknamed "Wild SpongeBob," will return for another round of fighting in Gaza. Having previously fought in northern Israel at the start of the war and being among the first companies to enter the Philadelphi Corridor, they're now on the hunt for more tank crew members.
As they prepare for their upcoming operational deployment in northern Gaza at the end of the month, the company commanders have taken to social media with a call that's as attention-grabbing as a bright yellow sponge under the sea:
"The immortal 'Wild SpongeBob' company (no, it's not a joke, there's a good story behind the name) is looking for soldiers to join its ranks," the post reads. "We're searching for tank crew members of all specialties who want to contribute and, along the way, join what is truly one of the most family-like, professional, and connected companies out there. If you're up to 40 years old, fresh and fit, we're looking for you - gunners, loaders, drivers, commanders, and officers alike."
We were wondering about the "Wild SpongeBob" moniker, which is not a normal name for a reserve combat unit. In a conversation with Makor Rishon, Yahav Dan, a former fighter in the company who now manages personnel and logistics, shed light on the story behind the name.
"A decade ago, we were at tank training in Tze'elim," Yahav explains. "It was a day or two after Independence Day, and in the middle of training, while we were in the middle of nowhere in the desert, we suddenly saw a small dot in the sky slowly approaching us. We didn't understand what it was, and it's worth noting that this was before the drone threat, so we weren't worried, but we were alert."
As the unidentified flying object drew closer, they realized what it was. "It was a giant helium balloon in the shape of SpongeBob SquarePants, the kind they sell on Independence Day. It had probably escaped from some poor kid a few days earlier, and it was just floating above us undisturbed."
Since then, the company proudly embraced the name "Wild SpongeBob."
So now we have a bunch of tank crews named after a cartoon sponge, heading back into Gaza. It's a weird and distinctive Israeli mix of tough reality and bizarre humor, in light of what feels like an everlasting war.
* Makor Rishon contributed to this article.
