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.
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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS, MEMORIAL PLAQUE DEDICATION, HONORING TBS 1-67, CO B, VIETNAM WAR CASUALTIES
L-R: Col. Hays Parks & Col. Bob Lange, both retired Marines from Bravo Co., TBS, 1-67, taking part in the wreath laying portion of the ceremony. The memorial plaque is to the immediate left of the wreath.
Capt. Andres (Andy) Vaart, USNR, ret., is another one of Bravo Company’s devotees. Andy told the families and friends of those listed on the plaque that he wanted to acknowledge the suffering of those left behind – it was a beautiful tribute, directed at families, who endure but never forget.
At the podium is Brig. Gen. Mike Wholley, USMC, ret, reciting the names of each Marine listed on the Memorial Plaque, while Lt. Col. Hon K. Lee, USMCR, ret., tolled the Bell of Honor as a sign of respect for each fallen hero.
During the playing of taps, an active duty Marine in his Combat Utility Uniform stands at attention and salutes, while Col. Parks, also stands at attention with his hand over his heart in keeping with military tradition.
Many thanks to the Marines of Bravo Company, TBS 1-67, for honoring the unit’s fallen warriors with a special plaque. Listed are the names of those who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, one of which is my former husband, Capt. Jerry A. Zimmer.
Inspired by Col. Hays Parks, the plaque soon became a Bravo Company project with everyone contributing in some way to its success.
On May 24, 2017, approximately 50 family members, special guests and former Bravo Company Marines gathered at the National Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, VA, to attend the plaque dedication ceremony.
On this 2017 Memorial Day weekend, please take a few minutes to watch Bravo Company’s video. Thank you. — Elaine Zimmer Davis
PLEASE PRESS HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO
Very moving video, thanks Elaine.
Dianne,
So nice to hear from you — hard to believe how long you’ve hung in. Thank you!