THE WALL OF FACES

We need your help! Since 1986, the students of Lake Central High School in Northwest Indiana have been researching men and women from the State of Indiana who gave their lives in the Vietnam War. We are the researchers for the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Memorials located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Of the1621 Vietnam casualties, we have located 1100+ families as of the date of this entry. We are now researching the men and women from the State of Illinois who gave their lives in the Vietnam War. We are seeking any and all help in locating the Roger Zimmerman family or his friends. If you have any information that may help please contact us at the following: Lake Central High School, Tom Clark, History Dept., 8400 Wicker Ave., Saint John, Indiana, 46373 or at email [email protected]

Dear SSGT Roger Zimmerman, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter

Roger Zimmerman
Date of birth: August 12, 1943
Date of death: May 10, 1968
Home of record: Deerfield Illinois
Status: KIA

AWARDS AND CITATIONS

Silver Star


Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Roger Zimmerman (ASN: RA-28272224), United States Army, for gallantry in action. Staff Sergeant Zimmerman distinguished himself by extraordinary gallantry in the Republic of Vietnam on 10 May 1968, while serving as weapons squad leader for the 3d Platoon, Company B, 3d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). On the above date, Company B was conducting a combat operation in the vicinity of Bong Son, when the third platoon made heavy contact with a large North Vietnamese force. Upon making contact with the enemy, Sergeant Zimmerman immediately began maneuvering his machine guns forward in order to provide covering fire for the rest of the platoon. When one of his machine gunners was hit and seriously wounded, Sergeant Zimmerman quickly took over the gun and kept up the fire. When both of the machine guns were in a good position, he had the assistant gunner take over the gun and he began maneuvering forward to the position of his platoon leader, who was seriously wounded. Armed only with a shotgun, Sergeant Zimmerman moved to the flank of his platoon leader, continuously exposing himself to the enemy in order to draw fire away from the wounded officer. While doing this, he was shot and seriously wounded in the left shoulder. In spite of his wound, he got to his feet and began assaulting the line of enemy bunkers. He destroyed the first bunker by killing two enemy soldiers with a blast from his shotgun. He then continued to the next bunker, where he killed two more enemy soldiers, but was himself shot and mortally wounded. Sergeant Zimmerman's extraordinary heroism at the cost of his own life was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, I Field Force, Vietnam, General Orders No. 528 (June 21, 1968)

Action Date: May 10, 1968

Service: Army

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Company: Company B

Battalion: 3d Battalion (Airborne)

Regiment: 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate)

Sgt. Zimmerman was the weapons squad sergeant when he went to the aid of the point squad which was pinned down in a ambush. Because he came forward firing his shotgun , the rest of the squad was able to disengage and pull back to safety. I hope somebody some day reads this. Jim Jacobs

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, one of the gentle heroes lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers