Christopher Michael Zimmerman, SSgt, USMC, 28 years of age, of Austin, Texas, was killed on September 20, 2006 while on patrol in Zaidon, Al Anbar Province, Iraq. SSgt Zimmerman was based in Fallujah, Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

SSgt Zimmerman began his career as a crew chief in the Marines after graduating boot camp in October 1997 from Camp Pendleton, California. First assigned to helicopter squadron HMLA-267 then subsequently to HMT-303-MAG-39 3rd Marine Air Wing attached to 13 MEU, Chris loved to work on the "birds" as he fondly called the Blackhawks and Hueys. After five years with the air wing, SSgt. Zimmerman received an honorable discharge, and immediately joined a Marine air wing reserve unit based in Marietta, Georgia with the intention of pursuing a college degree. However, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 had cemented within Chris the definite resolve of continuing to serve his country, and within a year he chose to re-enlist as an active-duty Marine.

Chris' first assignment after re-enlisting was with the 3rd Battalion 6th Marines Weapons Company out of Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. After his tour in Afghanistan in 2004 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, Chris was even more determined to make a difference for all of America. In Chris' words the most effective way for him to do that was to be “the best of the best” so Chris went on to qualify and train as part of the highly accomplished USMC Reconnaissance brotherhood. As a “Recon Brother” of 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Bravo Company, based at Camp LeJeune, Chris was living his dream. His graduation from the Reconnaissance Indoctrination Program, which qualified him to be recognized as a Recon Marine, was Chris' proudest moment.

During Chris' final deployment to Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he served as Assistant Team Leader. As such, one of his duties was maintaining and keeping track of his team's weapons, and making sure that his team members would be ready when called for a mission. Being one of the older and more experienced Marines in his unit, Chris set an example to the younger and less experienced Marines. He filled many different roles within his team, from "big brother" to "best friend" to "peacekeeper". He was entrusted with the well-being of "his" Marines, a duty which he fulfilled to the end. On that fateful final mission, as they came under attack, Chris fought to the end to protect his Marines, and as a result of his training and quick actions, his team was able to complete the mission and bring their fallen brother home.

Semper Fidelis, Devil Dog!