Jerry A. Zimmer (Class of 1966) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War (AMS.1U.Z1)

Biographical Note

Captain Jerry Zimmer, United States Marine Corps, was born in Maine, New York on May 5, 1944. The oldest of three boys, he was raised on a dairy farm and enjoyed a close relationship with his family. Jerry was a member of the National Honors Society and a star player on his high school football team. He was brought up in the Congregational Church and was highly regarded in town. He attended Brown University on a Naval ROTC scholarship, played football for a short time and pledged Delta Tau Delta. Jerry graduated with a B.A. in Economics in 1966. He married Elaine in June 1966 and entered Officer Candidate School (OCS), and then flight school. After finishing at the top of his class at flight school and earning a jet assignment (most pilots were assigned to helicopters) he began flight training at a number of different bases in the United States. He was assigned to the VMFA-542 (Marine Fighter Attack Squadron) stationed in Da Nang, Vietnam where he piloted an F-4 Phantom (Skyhawk). Captain Zimmer was killed in action with his navigator, Al Graf, while conducting an air strike in support of a reconnaissance insert mission on August 29, 1969, however his remains were not recovered. He is survived by his widow Elaine Zimmer Davis and their son Craig Zimmer. Elaine Zimmer Davis and her current husband, Ron D. Davis (retired Captain, USMC), along with sons and Jerry’s squadron-mates and in coordination with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) have worked tirelessly to identify the location of the crash site, sifting through imprecise records, creating models, visiting the area, and interviewing witnesses. As of February 2016, they continue to try to recover Jerry's remains. On the 40th anniversary of his death, August 29, 2009, a military memorial service was held for Jerry A. Zimmer in Arlington National Cemetery, where a stone stands inscribed to his memory. Elaine Zimmer Davis and family maintain the website http://www.bringingjerryhome.com where they share their journey and continuing related activities in the search for missing United States service members and personnel from past wars.