Our Mission:
My first husband, Capt. Jerry Zimmer, was an F4B Phantom jet pilot, whose aircraft was shot down on August 29, 1969, approximately 20 miles South of Da Nang, Vietnam, after six months in country. Neither Jerry nor his navigator, 1st Lt. Al Graf, was able to eject, before the aircraft crashed into the Que Son Mountains. Initially Jerry and Al were classified as Killed in Action/No Body Recovered (KIA/NBR). Years later, both Marines were listed as MIA, along with other service members whose bodies were never recovered.
Jerry has been gone nearly a half century, and hope for recovering his remains had run out a long time ago. However, in recent years our family became involved with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), now merged with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), and learned that Jerry’s and Al’s remains might, in fact, be recoverable, so we are doing everything possible to support their efforts to make this happen and bring our guys home where they belong.
NOTE: BLOG POSTS ARE NOT UPDATED, SO INFORMATION MAY HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME.
2015 BRINGS RENEWED HOPE TO MIA FAMILIES
Happy New Year from the Zimmer-Davis Family.
Row 1: Bea & Craig Zimmer; Elaine Zimmer Davis; Alie Zimmer.
Row 2: Breeze & Brett Davis; Jessica Tavasti; Ron Davis; Nick & Matt Zimmer
Happy New Year to all MIA families and others who follow and/or support efforts to bring home our missing service members from WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War or the Cold War. Our family knows from personal experience that the holidays can be the toughest time of year – no matter how long it has been since a husband, father, son, brother or cousin went missing.
Despite the less than stellar photography that has become inherent in our comical ritual, our family tries to get together for an annual picture during the Christmas/New Year holiday for a number of reasons. Most important to me is that blog followers know that thousands of MIA families like ours appreciate your support, and this photo allows us to put a “face” on our mission to bring home the remains of our loved one, Capt. Jerry Zimmer, USMC – my first husband and the father of our son, Craig, who has never had the chance to know his dad but honors him every day, while serving as a great husband and dad to his three children.
Jerry would be so proud of Craig and grateful that he has had a terrific role model in Ron, a man of extraordinary integrity, who has loved Craig like his biological son, Brett — a dad to a sweet little daughter, Breeze, born with a rare condition that has left her with special needs. Although Brett was always a good guy, Breeze has made him a better person. He adores her unconditionally — as does Brett’s girlfriend, Jessica Tavasti, an amazing gal.
Jerry’s Case
I am often asked about the status of Jerry’s case, most notably if remains have been found. Sadly, no remains have surfaced at this point, which does not mean that no remains exist but rather that they have eluded search efforts so far. I do believe that Jerry’s case will be resolved soon, and I will write more about the resolution in the near future. In the meantime, I want to thank JPAC teams for their tireless efforts in trying to find our missing service members. This is very difficult work and often thankless when remains are not found. No matter what happens, they will always have my heartfelt appreciation.
A New Beginning
This year is expected to bring big changes to the MIA accounting community. MIA families are looking forward to the rollout of the DoDs new MIA accounting agency, and I hope everyone will give the new leaders a little space as they try to maneuver the very complex system of finding and identifying thousands of MIAs from past wars.
On a closing note, please keep our active duty service members in your prayers, as they try to protect us from those who wish us harm. Remember, our military is not the enemy but rather the collective hero, who deserves to come home safely to families and to a country that loves and honors them and appreciates their efforts. Life in the United States would be very different without them.
Great to see all his family.
When you get closure I’d like to know.
I have his POW-MIA BRACELET that I’ve worn since the 80’s. I’d like to continue to wear it, if you don’t mind, till then.
I lived in Apalachin NY from 1978 to 2009.
Ed Watts
USMC 59-65
Thanks, Ed, for checking in — stay tuned, and hopefully you will be able to take off the bracelet in the near future. S/F Elaine