Today we remember “The Lion of Fallujah,” Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec, who was killed in action (KIA) on May 11th in 2007. Major Zembiec earned the name "The Lion of Fallujah" as a result of his heroic actions leading Echo Company 2/1 during Operation Vigilant Resolve in 2004. As a rifle company commander, he led 168 Marines and sailors in the first conventional ground assault into Fallujah, Iraq. Semper Fi Doug. https://lnkd.in/dQHrwc3X For every Maj. Douglas Zembiec bracelet sold, $10 will be donated to the Third Option Foundation. #USNA95 #USNA1995 ———————————— Major Zembiec graduated from La Cueva High School, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he was a two-time state champion in wrestling and was undefeated his senior year. At the Naval Academy, Major Zembiec was a member of the wrestling team and was a two-time NCAA All-American. After graduation, Major Zembiec service selected Marine Corps and served combat tours in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Major Zembiec was serving in the CIA's Special Activities Division Ground Branch in Iraq when he was killed. Zembiec was leading a unit of Iraqi forces he had helped train. Reports from fellow servicemen that were present in the dark Baghdad alley where he was killed indicate that he'd warned his troops to get down before doing so himself and was hit by enemy fire. The swimming pool located at the Marine Corps' Henderson Hall is named in honor of Major Zembiec and the Douglas A. Zembiec Award for Outstanding Leadership in Special Operations was created to annually "recognize the Marine officer who best exemplifies outstanding leadership as a Team Leader in the Marine Corps Special Operations Community."
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When you show up to PT at zero dark thirty and Capt (at the time) Zembiec is already climbing ropes… upside down, 2 at a time, with a ruck (how is that even possible)… you know you are being led well. Such a warrior and legend that will live in our hearts forever. Would follow him anywhere. Rest in peace sir.
A true American hero, in Fallujah, Baghdad, and beyond. We memorialized his sacrifice with a monument at the helipad at Multinational Force-Iraq Headquarters, which was renamed for him in a ceremony over which I presided. A tragic loss. An extraordinary leader.
I did not personally know this legend though I often refer to his enduring guidance: “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. Never forget those that were killed. And never let rest those that killed them.”
Doug was a true warrior and leader and loved his men and they loved him. He inspired me at the Academy and at TBS with his competitive nature and infectious personality. We pushed each other on the endurance course and in other physical tests and anyone who knew Doug knew he loved a challenge. Doug - you’re missed and remembered daily. I and many others with Carry The Load carry your memory and legacy daily in our hearts and will never let your story cease to be told. Semper Fi my friend.
Should have never been there. Fallujah was a great shame to our armed forces.
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One of the best Marine officers and friend I had the honor to serve with!
the services and the holiday i hope you have a great one in anyone in the time of your service and the holiday to sit and watch older or younger ones and anyone around you in your age group as my age to see the history of history in leadership in ways to see all the living presidents in its history and have relatives in wars before and to the places of ones in places in just history for the holidays and how we and my age grew up to see the day evolve and others parts behind you in just ways of celebrating the holidays and the veterans and military of the united states of america its a day of history to see your life behind the retirement of the late one to leave general mile and ones just deceased as the marines leaders to live a long long lives and one past over a 100 in years to see the age of veterans sit and listen in the health you all gave us to live here and born here to see one day of the year improve i hope its a happy day for mr sinease and the sadness of his last one passed to here his brother story returning from war and see that war see more what to have here behind him not his son but the age to see his time in work next to the late actor mr gossett in his time to see ones coming to bases i can do this stuffbillmuray
Faculty at Antelope Valley College
2moI did not know Major Zembiec. I graduated from USNA in ‘89 before his time. However, I find it remiss that as a USNA graduate, I’ve never heard of him. Our alumni magazine celebrates the various academic accolades achieved by the Brigade and the esteemed graduates who are either Admirals, Captains of Industry or both - as it should. However, little attention seems to be given to the examples of warrior ethos that the military academies, by their very existence, should be trying to develop. I don’t think it was always this way. When I was there in the 80’s the graduates who had gone to WWII, Korea and Vietnam were addressed with reverence - we were in awe that they had “been there”. Maybe it’s less a statement of the USNA and more a statement on the priorities of our comfortable society. We forget that the military academies are not there to be cradles of computer science and engineering. Other institutions can do that - and probably better. Rather, the military academies are there to develop men and women to face the enemy and lead in combat. Major Zembiec is one of those men.