RIP Major Doug Zembiec

[Silverbullet]

Doug Zembiec was killed in action this week in Iraq.

Doug was a warrior and will be missed.

Edit to add: For those that PM'ed to ask there's a reason this is posted in this specific area.

[Miguel]

May he rest in peace.

Prayers to his family and friends.

[PocketKings]

RIP, Marine.

[The Corporate Guy]

RIP sir.

[Dutch8654]

RIP Marine

[SOTB]

RIP....

[Forestboy]

RIP Sir....

[Seamus]

I heard that last night too but out of respect of knowing him I wanted to wait a few day and make sure what i was hearing was true. I guess you conifrmed it. He was one of the top 5 Marine officers i ever met. Took care of his men. I remember taking the FORECON indoc with him. He smoked it.
At one point he was the poster Marine for fox news during Fallujah 2/1. RIP

[Massgrunt]

Fuck. Unless there was another Zembiec, he was in 2/1 the same time I was, and featured in a few books. A good guy who everyone liked. This is the second old 2/1 CO I've heard about dying this month, both true leaders. Rest easy sir, you did your part and that's all a man can do. These are the times that make us question getting out.

[Sharky]

RIP Sir.

[Silverbullet]

Blackfive's post about Doug

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2007/05/a_lion_falls_go.html

[Typhoon]

RIP Major Zembiec. My condolences on his loss to all you here who knew or served with him; the members of his unit; and especially to his young family at home. I am sorry to hear of this loss...

[Massgrunt]

I was the battalion training NCO for the last couple of months I was in, so I dealt with all the XOs and COs pretty regularly. That's how I knew Capt. Zembiec. Like most of them, he was a total gentleman. "Hey, Corporal Massgrunt, we need this, this and this." A very few of the higher ups I dealt with were cocky dickheads. Like one or two out of a dozen or so. But the only thing keeping the rest from being that way was their own strength of character. These are the men who lead our Marines.

It was far from a glamorous job, but it was cool to deal with the Os like that and see that they were actually pretty good guys.

[Global Med]

Damn good man. He will be missed.

[magician]

Sorry, SB.

Rest in Peace.

[0699]

RIP Marine.

Semper Fidelis.

[ut3]

RIP Sir

[The91Bravo]

Too many RIP threads...
This is one type thread that I wish we never had to post or read...
RIP warrior

[Andy0331]

RIP Marine

[rv808]

RIP Sir, and thank you for your service.

[tova]

RIP, Godspeed, PBS....

[CDRODA396]

Rest In Peace Marine and Thank You for Your Service and Your Sacrifice.

[Guinness1759]

Funeral information for Doug Zembiec

Tuesday 05/15/2007 - wake at Taylor Funeral Home in Annapolis, MD. Two
sessions 1400-1600 and 1800-2000.

Wednesday 05/16/2007 - funeral service at the UMA-Annapolis Chapel 0900-1100
followed by a procession to Arlington National Cemetary for burial.

The Patriot Guard/Armed Forces Motorcyle Club will lead the procession to
take Doug home.

[bad juju]

I knew the name sounded familiar, so I pulled No True Glory off my shelf for the first time in a long while and flipped back to the index and, sure enough, there was Doug Zembiec. My condolences, Marines. It sounds like he was a great leader.

Requiescat in pace.

[AJG]

RIP, Major, and thanks for what you have done for us.

[GracieLou]

Rest in Peace Major Zembiec...

[Willhack]

Doug is the son of retired FBI Special Agent. I have met Doug on a couple of occasions, the normal funeral or special occasion, and we had a few beers and some conversation. Doug is very close friend of one of my best friends. Though we did not have time to get to know each other beyond the normal soldier conversation you knew right away he was an American warrior who allowed us to sleep comfortable at home while he kept our enemies at bay.



Though a young Marine Captain he took time out of his busy schedule to travel across country to visit our mutual Agent friend and mentor when our friend’s Dad passed over. That tells you something about his character. Keep Doug and his family in your prayers.

[Ranger5280]

RIP MARINE!

[CAP MARINE]

RIP,Marine

[RAT]

RIP Maj... You will be missed.

Rat out!!!

[VAshooter]

I did not know Maj. Zembiec personally, but my brother-in-law, Maj. Michael Martino, served under him in Echo 2/1 in Fallujah in 2004 as the company FAC. Michael spoke very highly of Doug saying how he was a true brave warrior and so unlike many of the other officers who were more content to stay behind the lines in the Jolan at the time.
Michael Martino was KIA in Nov 2005 while flying a Cobra near Ramadi. The Martino family was very sad to hear of Doug's death - Doug had said many nice things about Michael when he was killed and gave comfort to our family at that time. I'm sure that there are many Marines doing the same for Doug's family now. Losing a leader and warrior like Maj. Zembiec is a huge loss for the USMC. But he died doing something that was important and was his life.

[Kalanis]

RIP Marine.

[ECHO6GOLF]

RIP Sir.

[Kalbo]

RIP Major Zembiec

[waverider]

RIP Sir

[ratamojada]

I had the distinct pleasure to work with and around Maj. Zembiec over the course of about a year. He was one of America's greatest patriots...a true warrior. This one hits hard. Honestly, he was almost superhuman. Just to watch him workout was awe inspiring. His baby girl just turned one recently.

RIP Sir.

Rata

[Jimbo]

Rest in peace, Major Zembiec. Thank you for your service and for leading from the front.

There is a photo of his wife from his funeral on the front page of the Washington Post today. This one is more respectful.

[glassiam]

RIP Sir....

[Guinness1759]

I attended Doug's wake and funeral and the Boys at 8th & I did a great job laying him to rest. Hat's off to all of them.

[Forestboy]

Write up on the funeral and Maj Zembiec:

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/A4DBCDEFC7ABEAD5852572DF005E3DB3?opendocument

[Corsair]

RIP Major Zembiec
Semper Fidelis

[pig pen]

I feel very honored to have been in this man's presence for the short time that god saw fit.
I'll never forget him.
R.I.P. Sir

[Petey]

Here is the "Zembiec Workout of the Day," for all you Cross-fit-ers:

50x kettlebell swings(54lbs)
50x pull-ups(rings if you got them)
50x sledgehammers( use a ten pound sledge hammer and beat a tire one swing = one rep.
50x dips(rings if you got them.)

[SKScotch]

RIP, sir.

[Thor]

RIP.
two articles

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/15/AR200705
1500002.html

Marine Killed in Baghdad Was Determined, Compassionate

By Martin Weil
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 15, 2007; B07

There may not be higher praise than was offered last night for Douglas
A. Zembiec, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, a resident of
Annapolis and a Marine.

"I thought he was one of the greatest people on Earth," said Zembiec's
father-in-law, William Slunt.

"He was one of the best Americans that this country could ever know,"
said Alexandra Ripley of Annapolis, the wife of a close friend.

Zembiec, 34, a career Marine who held the rank of major and whose
formal assignment was at corps headquarters, in Arlington, was killed in
combat Friday in Baghdad, the Pentagon said last night.

A newspaper in Albuquerque, where he went to high school, described him
as a legendary Marine, and his friend Tom Ripley said that was
accurate.

In the corps, Ripley said, Zembiec was known as the "lion" of Fallujah for the warrior qualities he showed during the fierce house-to-house fighting there in the spring of 2004.

He "made a real kind of mark on the Marines," said Ripley, who comes from a Marine family and had himself served as a captain.

He was "one of the finest Marines and finest Americans I've ever known,"
Ripley added, hailing his friend's courage, unswerving optimism and
"ferociousness in combat."

The citation for his Bronze Star recognized his heroism at the head of his men in Fallujah, under heavy fire from a more numerous foe. Moving from building to building, the citation said, and despite being seriously wounded, Zembiec led his men, directed their fire and helped evacuate other wounded Marines.

The 6-foot-2 Zembiec was a former All America wrestler at the Naval Academy. He was also passionate and compassionate, said Ripley, and
among the "nicest, easiest-going, friendliest" of men.

His letter to the mother of a fallen Marine is in a book of writing by troops and their families that was published by Random House.

The death "brought tears to my eyes, tears that fell in front of my Marines," Zembiec wrote. "I am unashamed of that fact."

A newspaper correspondent wrote that even in the severe test of combat,
Zembiec maintained a strict sense of right and wrong. "People in combat
are under a lot of stress and pressure," the reporter quoted Zembiec as
saying. "But that is never an excuse for unlawful conduct."

In 2005, he was quoted on the importance of the mission in Iraq and of
seeing it through.

"Isolationism does not work," he said. "We need to bring some kind of stability over there. We need to stay the course."

At La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, Zembiec "was probably the toughest kid . . . that I've ever coached," Ron Owen said.

He was, Owen said, "a totally unique individual who would give you everything he had." If he had to "pick somebody to go to war with," the
coach said, "it would have been Doug. Just a super, super kind of guy"
who would "put himself out there on the line before he'd ask you."

Annapolis was not that easy for him, Zembiec once told an Albuquerque
newspaper, referring to the classwork.

"It just about killed me," he said. "But I was never gonna give up."

In addition to his parents, who live in Albuquerque, survivors include his wife, Pamela, whom he married in 2005, and their year-old daughter.

"It's such a loss for our country," Ripley said, but "he was doing what he loved. Exactly what he loved to do."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/16/AR200705
1602860.html
Salute to a Memorable Marine

By Dan Morse
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 17, 2007; B01



The turnout seemed entirely fitting for a Marine who was described -- with little apparent hyperbole -- as the toughest guy in the house. More
than 1,000 mourners, from generals to civilians, packed the Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis yesterday to honor Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec, who was killed last week outside Baghdad.

Five hours later, after the sound of taps had faded over his coffin at Arlington National Cemetery, came what Zembiec, 34, might have considered the finest tribute of all.

About 40 enlisted men gathered under a tree, telling stories about their
former commander. Some had flown in from as far away as California, prompting one officer to observe: Your men have to follow your orders;
they don't have to go to your funeral.

The men knew firsthand how Zembiec, who lived outside Annapolis, had come to be known as the Lion of Fallujah.

The story is one of their favorites. It was 2004, in the Jolan district of Fallujah, and Zembiec was a captain. They were on a rooftop, taking fire from AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades. They tried to radio an Abrams tank below to open fire in the direction of the enemy. No good.

Zembiec raced down the stairs and out to the street and climbed onto the
tank. Gunnery Sgt. Pedro Marrufo, 29, who watched from the rooftop, remembers Zembiec getting a Marine inside the tank to open the hatch.
Insurgents shot at Zembiec as he instructed the men in the tank where to
fire.

Cpl. Chad Borgmann, 28, who went to Zembiec's funeral from Camp Pendleton, Calif., said yesterday that boarding tanks during firefights
and similar actions is typically the work of enlisted men. If a lance corporal falls, there are 40 to take his place. But there are fewer captains, Borgmann said, and fewer still who always seemed to be out in front.

"He let us know it was his privilege to lead us," Borgmann said, walking
back to a car through the graves of Arlington before heading out to meet
up with his Marine buddies at the Clarendon Grill.

Zembiec, born in Hawaii, the son of an FBI agent, was a two-time all-American wrestler at the Naval Academy before graduating in 1995. His most recent U.S. posting was in Arlington.

For years, Zembiec had drawn the attention of Marines and journalists alike. He served in Kosovo and was on his fourth tour in Iraq, said Col. John Ripley, a retired Marine and close friend. His numerous military honors included a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.

Through it all, he remained an unabashed warrior. "A terrific day. We just whacked two [insurgents] running down an alley with AK-47s," he told a Los Angeles Times reporter in 2004. Of the 168-member unit he commanded, about one-third suffered casualties.

"From Day One, I've told [my troops] that killing is not wrong if it's for a purpose, if it's to keep your nation free or protect your buddy," he told the Times. "One of the most noble things you can do is kill the enemy."

Mourners heard a sampling of Zembiec's sentiments yesterday. "Never forget those that were killed," he once wrote. "And never let rest those that killed them."

As many as 15 generals filed into the pews of the historic chapel, with its cavernous ceiling and towering windows exposing blue skies. Other men, in suits, with the bearing of retired military officers, stood straight with clutched fists at their sides while quietly singing the Marines' Hymn. Many others appeared to be Zembiec's peers, 30-something couples, men with the close-cropped hair of Marines, and some of the women pregnant.

Mourners heard about Zembiec's family life. His wife of two years, Pamela, and their 1-year-old daughter, Fallyn, sat up front.

"Become the greatest husband and father ever," Zembiec had written in a
note to himself.

The Marine had compiled such axioms and exhortations in notebooks, xcerpts of which were read aloud by a close friend, Eric L. Kapitulik, who also recounted this story:

While Zembiec was stationed at Camp Pendleton after the Fallujah campaign, his parents visited. Zembiec and his father, Don, drove onto the base to shoot skeet and were stopped at the gate by a young Marine. Are you Captain Zembiec's father? the Marine asked. Yes, his father said.

"I was with your son in Fallujah," the Marine said. "He was my company commander. If we had to go back in there, I would follow him with a spoon."

Kapitulik read heavily from Zembiec's notebooks. One of the quotes was particularly long, amounting to what Kapitulik said was a summary of
Zembiec himself.

"Be a man of principle. Fight for what you believe in. Keep your word. Live with integrity. Be brave. Believe in something bigger than yourself. Serve your country.

"Teach. Mentor. Give something back to society. Lead from the front. Conquer your fears. Be a good friend. Be humble and be self-confident.

"Appreciate your friends and family. Be a leader and not a follower. Be valorous on the field of battle. And take responsibility for your actions."

Kapitulik said the creed came from the man who knew Zembiec the longest,
as indicated by the major's written description: "Principles my father taught me."

[Purple36]

RIP Major

[shootnsurf]

we.ll miss you Doug, thank you

[guns]

RIP, Warrior.

[ratamojada]

Doug was just mentioned in a choked up response from the SecDef.

We think about you everyday bro.

Rata

[Former]

God speed, Doug.

[SFS0AVN]

RIP Maj Doug Zembiec.

[Team Hondo]

RIP

[Evil Snowman]

RIP Warrior ...

(with glass raised)

"May the Lord welcome you in Heaven ... at least an hour before the Devil knows you're dead."

[resker]

Greetings All,

I've attempted to create and cultivate an entry for Major Zembiec on Wikipedia to preserve his contributions for posterity. Major Zembiec, or Doug as I've known him since the 7th grade, is a name that I gather many here knew well (at least by reputation if not personally) and I'm hoping to enlist your support in better documenting his life and exploits. My effort has proven to be sadly incomplete thus far and would benefit greatly from the words of those who knew him in his professional life. In the interest of full disclosure, I've filed a freedom of information act request to the Dept. of Navy and HQMC to obtain some of these details myself but I imagine that much of the response will be culled in light of still current operational security concerns. That's certainly understandably necessary. In lieu of that response, please consider contributing to the record here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zembiec

Upon visiting the link above you'll note that the article is currently being considered for deletion under the presumption that it doesn't meet "notability guidelines." This notion is infuriating to me, but a strictly academic and objective approach in molding this article is necessary to ensure it's inclusion in the record. If you're able to contribute (and gracious enough to do so) please keep in mind that a terse "just the facts" approach usually works best.

Thanks for your time, and for those of you in harm's way please keep your head down when prudent, but kick ass at all times.

Respectfully,
R.W. Esker

[Highspire13]

Well written tribute.

[RonUSMC]

You can RIP Zemmie, your boys will take care of it.

[BigOne]

I hope Valhalla is as magnificent as you use to describe to us. To the gates of hell and back sir!
A true warrior.

[Global Med]

Letter for signatures going around via the FRA for the following proposal:


The Honorable Raymond E. Mabus, Jr. May 11, 2009
Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20350-1000
Dear Secretary Mabus:

Mr. Secretary, many proposals for naming U.S. Navy ships are forwarded to your office each year that include lengthy and expensive public relations campaigns. We do not wish to begin such a protracted campaign, but do propose that the next Arleigh Burke destroyer, DDG 113, be named USS Douglas A. Zembiec.

Major Douglas A. Zembiec, USMC, was killed in action in Baghdad on May 11, 2007, while leading a raid on an insurgent stronghold. Known as the "Lion of Fallujah," Doug was universally admired and respected by all who knew and served with him.

Major Zembiec served numerous combat tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo. Legend of his unwavering courage on multiple battlefields spread across the country after several bestselling books and national news stories documented his combat leadership. The Marines he led were inspired to greatness by his selfless demeanor, and senior officers were likewise awed by his exploits. Major Zembiec’s senior enlisted Marine stated emphatically, "He was the Marine that every Marine wanted to be next to, fighting the enemy." A picture of Doug from Operation Vigilant Resolve hangs in Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ conference room at the Pentagon, and the Secretary publicly praised Doug’s example of selfless service. General David Petraeus dubbed him "a true charter member of the brotherhood of the close fight."

Doug was warrior in every respect. He relished in service to his country and cherished the moniker ‘warrior’. Tragically, he paid the ultimate sacrifice for that love. Bing West said it best: "We can dispute the politics of any war --- Iraq, Afghanistan, or any others, but we cannot dispute our need for warriors." Taking this idea to its logical fruition, it is our solemn obligation to ensure the top examples of the warrior ethos are heralded and passed on to future generations.

Admiral Arleigh Burke said of the destroyer class named in his honor, "This ship is built to fight; you’d better know how." There is no finer example of a modern warrior who embodies this quote and the overall spirit of Admiral Burke--relentless in combat, resourceful in command, and revered by all--than Major Douglas A. Zembiec.

Very Respectfully,

[shark11]

I get a little choked up whenever I think about any of our fallen....some of them are harder to deal with than others, Major Zembiec is one of the hardest for me to think about.....there just aren't many Americans like him.

I really hope a ship is named in his honor.

[Seanmcd82]

RIP....

Goddamn.

[Psi Brr]

Major Zembiec, Rest in Peace Sir. You were a giant amid your comrades.

[Kip]

RIP Major.

[Certa Cito]

There's a helipad named in Major Zembiec's honour in Camp Victory, Baghdad. I used to go by it all the time, and stopped a couple of times to read the information on the memorial board at the edge of the pad. I was always fascinated by what I read (fascinated might not be the right word, but hopefully you get my meaning), and the thing that most stuck in my mind was the fact that below his name was written 'The Lion of Fallujah'. I obviously didn't know the man, but I have remained in awe at reading that (and again, seeing it here), it must have been a true testament to the man and his actions to be known by that name.

However, I do find it a little disrespectful that a mere concreted area for landing helicopters on has been named in his honour - I appreciate the idea, but it doesn't seem paricularly fitting for him, let alone anyone who has been killed in action, so I was pleased to see the letter regarding the naming of a ship after him. I just personally feel that people, such as him, and any others who have given their lives, should be remembered in a manner more fitting.

As an example: two British soldiers were killed in Belfast towards the end of the last century, in a very public and brutal manner - if I remember correctly, their naked and somewhat mutilated bodies were later dumped outside one of the barracks. What have they had named in their honour? A large blue metal-faced building used to store spare gym and fitness equipment, at a training regiment. I think it's disgusting.

It's a complex subject, with different ways of looking at it, I suppose in hindsight, people's lives and actions shouldn't be quantified by the size of the structure named after them - what makes one person's sacrifice greater than another, that one man should have an aircraft carrier named after him, while another gets a DFAC named in his honour. I suppose however small it is, their name is still displayed there, and people walk by, and may not even notice at first, but their name remains in their mind, and later they may stop to find out more, as I did with the helipad. It's safe to say, that Major Zembiec's name is firmly planted in my mind, and I guess that is the idea.

Sorry to have digressed somewhat, it's just something I feel strongly about, and thought you all might be interested to hear about the helipad.

Rest In Peace.

[The PFC]

Zembiec Pool to be dedicated
Henderson Hall’s Zembiec Pool will be officially dedicated to the memory of Marine Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec Thursday, Sept. 9 at a noon ceremony. The pool will be closed to patrons that morning during ceremony preparation, but will reopen for swimming at 2 p.m.
Major Zembiec deployed from an assignment at Henderson Hall and was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq, May 11, 2007.
Everyone is invited to attend to honor this Marine. A reception will follow the ceremony.


"Never forget those that were killed. And never let rest those that killed them." - Maj. Doug Zembiec

[Realist]

Great to see Captain Matthew Lampert of Company C awarded the 1st Annual Zembiec Award last night for outstanding leadership in the USMC Special Forces Command. The award was presented by Major Zembiec's parents. Doug was the third platoon commander in my company before transferring to 2d Force. His care for his men, sense of humor and intelligence was one and the same with his courage.

[CCo275]

RIP Sir!

[ECHO3HOTEL]

Did anyone have the honor to serve with Rod Richardson at B co. 1st Recon Bn. I did when he was a Capt Bad ASS, He retired as a Ltcol then after 911 KIA by IED in Bagdad Oct 6 2006 as a manager for PMC Falcon. He was a great man.

[timmah5]

RIP Sir.

[survivalist77]

Rest in Peace Marine, Godspeed!

[shootermac]

This is a long time coming, but I ran into a fellow Recon Marine today and we were discussing Maj. Zembiec. I went through ARS Ft. Story with him and will never forget his work ethic or demeanor. He ALWAYS had a "Liberty Brief" for us in the class and was quick to share one of his many quotes on leadership, being a man, being a warrior, etc. He will be sorely missed and the Corps lost a great leader on that day in Baghdad. RIP Doug...the streets of Heaven are much safer now with you on patrol.

[ddog79]

Did anyone have the honor to serve with Rod Richardson at B co. 1st Recon Bn. I did when he was a Capt Bad ASS, He retired as a Ltcol then after 911 KIA by IED in Bagdad Oct 6 2006 as a manager for PMC Falcon. He was a great man.

I had a Capt. Richardson as a CO at A Co., 1st Recon Bn., from '85 to '86 when I left. I don't know if it was the same person.

[agonyea]

Rest in Peace Major Zembiec. Thank you for your service and sacrifice for this nation.
Here is an story in Washington Post to honor this fallen Marine.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/16/AR2007051602860.html

Picture is Major Zembiec's funeral at Arlington.

[SgtMoe]

Rest in Peace Marine.....Semper Fi

[resker]

1) I'd appreciate any assistance with identifying the breast insignia depicted at the bottom of the graphic here:

Maj. Zembiec's decorations (http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.asp?ID=157)

FWIW, the referenced site's list of Doug's decorations appears to be incomplete.

2) What's the status of the petition to name one of the next Arleigh Burke class after him?

Thanks!

[Silverbullet]

It's the MFF badge. He's also a combatant diver.

I don't know the answer to the other question. First I heard of it.

[resker]

Thanks, I wasn't aware there was a separate badge. Granted most of my experience is dated at this point, but I don't recall having seen it before. Is it typically authorized for wear on the Marine uniform?

Regarding the second matter, please see this post:

Petition (http://www.socnet.com/showpost.php?p=1149642&postcount=58)

[Linda1961]

RIP Sir. Prayers for family and friends.

[tawS7]

Wasn't here when this first appeared. God bless him. RIP.

[Global Med]

"Whoever does not have the stomach for this fight, let him depart.Give him money to speed his departure as we wish not to die in that man's company.Whoever lives past today and comes home safely will rouse himself every year on this day, show his neighbor his scars, and tell embellished stories of all their great feats of battle.These stories will teach his son, and from this day until the end of the world, we shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for whoever has shed his blood with me shall be my brother."


Semper Fi Marine, you are not forgotten.

[Stingray66]

Rest in Peace Major. Thank you for your service Sir. Prayers out to your family and friends.

Semper Fi.
Sincerely,
Stingray

[shark11]

Major Z and his classmate Major Megan McClung are resting not too far from each other at Arlington. I didn't know either of them but wish I did.

S/F

[Linda1961]

RIP Warriors. Prayers for family & friends.