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

Brown University Library

Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Inventory

Series 1. Oral History

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1 Interview of Elaine Zimmer Davis, widow of Jerry A. Zimmer (1966) - audio recording
8.0 compact discs

Contents Note: The oral history interview with Elaine Zimmer Davis was conducted at the John Hay Library by Prof. Elizabeth Taylor. Audio recording of interview on eight CD-R disks: 3 CD-R disks containing unedited raw recording in .cda files (2 copies); 1 CD-R disk with unedited raw recording in .mp3 file; 1 CD-R disk containing an edited version of the interview in .mp3 file.

Names:
Zimmer, Jerry A. (Jerry Allen), 1944-1969

 2010 May 25
Box 1, Folder 2 Interview with Elaine Zimmer Davis, widow of Jerry A. Zimmer (1966) - edited transcription
47.0 pages

Contents Note: Interview with Elaine Zimmer Davis conducted in the John Hay Library by Prof. Elizabeth Taylor.

Names:
Zimmer, Jerry A. (Jerry Allen), 1944-1969

 2010 May 25
Box 1, Folder 3 Summary notes of interview with Elaine Zimmer Davis by Beth Taylor
4.0 pages

 2010 May 25
Box 1, Folder 4 Brown Vietnam Vets Oral History: Years at Brown Questions - Elaine Zimmer's responses handwritten by Beth Taylor
6.0 pages


 2010 May 25
Box 1, Folder 5 Brown University Oral History Project Release Form, signed by Elaine Zimmer Davis
1.0 page

 2010 May 25

Series 2. Photographs

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 6 Zimmer Wedding (Photo A)
1.0 item

 1966 June 11
Box 1, Folder 6 Jerry A. Zimmer in Brown University Lacrosse uniform (Photo B)
1.0 item

Contents Note: Freshman year
 circa 1962
Box 1, Folder 6 Jerry Zimmer's Memorial Stone in Arlington Cemetery (Photo C)
1.0 item

Contents Note: Arlington, Virginia
 2009 August 20
Box 1, Folder 6 Craig Zimmer receives American Flag at Memorial Service for Jerry Zimmer in Arlington Cemetery (Photo D)
1.0 item

Contents Note: Arlington, Virginia
 2009 August 20
Box 1, Folder 6 Family, Friends, and Marines at Memorial Service for Jerry Zimmer in Arlington Cemetery (Photo E)
1.0 item

Contents Note: Arlington, Virginia
 2009 August 20
Box 1, Folder 6 Marines Performing Flag-Folding at Memorial Service for Jerry Zimmer in Arlington Cemetery (Photo F)
1.0 item

Contents Note: Arlington, Virginia
 2009 August 20
Box 1, Folder 6 Elaine with Jerry Peters (son) and Billy Peters (Class of 1966) at Jerry Zimmer's memorial service (Photo G)
1.0 item

 2009
Box 1, Folder 6 Brett and Ron Davis with Craig Zimmer (Jerry's son) in Vietnam (Photo H)
1.0 item

 2009 January
Box 1, Folder 6 Brett Davis and Craig Zimmer in Hanoi at Joint Prisoners of War, Missing in Action Accounting Command (JPAC) (Photo I)
1.0 item

 2009 January
Box 1, Folder 6 Map of Jerry Zimmer's corrected crash site coordinates (Photo J)
1.0 item

Contents Note: Created by Ron Davis (Elaine's second husband)
 2009
Box 1, Folder 6 Elaine Zimmer Davis and Mr. Du, former Viet Cong guerilla in Vietnam (Photo K)
1.0 item

Contents Note: In Vietnam
 2009 March
Box 1, Folder 6 Mr. Du performs Buddhist Burial Ceremony at Jerry Zimmer's crash site in the Que Son Mountains (Photo L)
1.0 item

Contents Note: Mr. Du performs a Buddhist burial ceremony at Jerry's crash site in the Que Son Mountains.
 2009 March
Box 1, Folder 6 Mr. Du leads Elaine and Lt. Col. Gene Mares, USMC (Ret.) to Jerry's crash site (Photo M)
1.0 item

 2009 March 18
Box 1, Folder 6 Jerry Zimmer (on left) and 1st Lt. Al Graf (on right); last known photograph together before their deaths (Photo N)
1.0 item

Last known photograph of both before their deaths.
 1969
Box 1, Folder 6 Jerry Zimmer outside hootch, Vietnam (Da Nang?) (Photo O)
1.0 item

 1969
Box 1, Folder 6 Jerry Zimmer at Da Nang Air base (Photo P)
1.0 item

 1969
Box 1, Folder 6 Jerry A. Zimmer at Officer Candidate School Graduation (Photo Q)
1.0 item
1 image - 2 versions

Contents Note: Quantico, Virginia
 1966
Box 1, Folder 6 Jerry Zimmer and Gene Mares in front of F4 Phantom (Photo R)
1.0 item
1 image / 2 versions

 1969
Box 1, Folder 6 Jerry Zimmer with son Craig in front of F4 Phantom (Photo S)
1.0 item

Contents Note: Beaufort, South Carolina: Jerry's last duty station before Vietnam.
 1968

Series 3. Correspondence

Zimmer family

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 7 Zimmer, Elma (Jerry's mother) to Elaine and Craig "Miracles do happen! Last night, Jer [Jerry] called again..."
2.0 pages with envelope

 1969 April 30
Box 1, Folder 7 Zimmer, Jerry to Elaine "Hi Beautiful, Well another day and three days since Charley's accident"
2.0 pages with envelope

Contents Note: Jerry writes about Charlie Pigott's death (Brown, Class of '66)

Names:
Zimmer, Jerry A. (Jerry Allen), 1944-1969

 1969 May 21
Box 1, Folder 7 Zimmer, Jerry to Elaine "Hi Honey, Well here I am again....Yesterday I was the flight leader on the HOTPAD."
3.0 pages with envelope

 1969 August 11
Box 1, Folder 7 Zimmer, Jerry to Elaine "Hi Honey, How are you doing today : only a couple weeks until R&R"
2.0 pages with envelope

General Note: Written on USMC stationery : light blue with white map of Thailand, Cambodia, North Vietnam, South Vietnam with cities identified, U.S. Seventh Fleet ship icon in the Gulf of Tonkin.
 1969 August 21

Condolences

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 8 Garrahy, J. Joseph, Lt. Gov. of Rhode Island to Elaine Zimmer' "It was with extreme sorrow..." (condolence letter)
1.0 page

 1969 September 8
Box 1, Folder 8 French, Cpt. John K. to Elaine Zimmer, condolences, "The pain of losing Jerry, I'm sure, will be soothed little by anything I say."
2.0 pages with envelope

Contents Note: Harvard NROTC/long-time friend of Jerry's
 1969 September 23
Box 1, Folder 8 Graff, Mary Ann to Elaine Zimmer, condolences with her own widowhood experiences "Al was a realist; he knew the odds."
3.0 pages with envelope

Contents Note: Wife of Al Graff, who was in the jet with Jerry when it crashed.
 1969 September 28
Box 1, Folder 8 Intlekofer, Cpl. Richard L. to Elaine Zimmer, condolences "It's hard to accomplish much unless all members of a military organization are coordinated to a set goal."
3.0 pages with envelope

 1969 October 3
Box 1, Folder 8 Mares, Gene to Elaine and Craig Zimmer "I feel ashamed to let this go so long" (condolences) "Jerry was scrambled off a hotpad on an LZP (Landing Zone Prep)."
5.0 pages

 1969 October 16
Box 1, Folder 8 Frantz, Cpt. Robert L. (Bob) to Elaine Zimmer, condolences "Tonite I'll probably be a failure at the right words...All of these witnesses confirm that there was no ejection by either Jerry or Al."
2.0 pages with envelope

 1969 October 20

Military

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 9 Stewart, Cpt. M.E. to Mr. and Mrs. Warren Zimmer, from Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Kingsville, Texas "high flyer" award.
2.0 pages

Contents Note: Kingsville, Texas
 1968 March 6
Box 1, Folder 9 Western Union Telegram, USMC Gen. Leonard F. Chapman to Elaine Zimmer advising of Cpt. Zimmer's death
2.0 pages

 1969 September 4
Box 1, Folder 9 Dept. of Navy Official Report of Casualty of Captain Jerry A. Zimmer from his Military Record
2.0 pages

Contents Note: Copy from negative microfilm.

Names:
Zimmer, Jerry A. (Jerry Allen), 1944-1969
United States. Marine Corps.
United States. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542.


Names:
United States. Department of the Navy.

 1969 September 9
Box 1, Folder 9 Smith, Col. K.A. to Elaine Zimmer "In reply to your letter of 15 October 1969, I will attempt to provide you with the information you requested."
2.0 pages

Contents Note: Jerry's commanding officer in Vietnam, VMFA-542
 1969 October 23
Box 1, Folder 9 Chapman, Leonard F., USMC Gen., to Elaine Zimmer: letter of condolence.
1.0 pages with envelope

 1969 October 29

Series 4. Articles and Forums

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 10 "VMFA-542 Forum" Capt Jerry Zimmer & Lt Al Graf Update posts by Jerry Nicholson on behalf of Gene Mares.
3.0 pages

Existence and Location of Originals note

This post is from an online forum for member, family and friends of the VMFA-452 Marines. The web address of the original post is: http://www.vmfa542.com/vmfa542forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=30 [viewed 2016 February 23]

 2009 June 15
Box 1, Folder 10 "VMFA-542 Forum" Invitation to Capt Jerry Zimmer Tribute at Arlington Cemetery posted by Jerry Nicholson on behalf of Elaine Zimmer Davis, and Craig Zimmer.
5.0 pages

Existence and Location of Originals note

This post is from an online forum for member, family and friends of the VMFA-452 Marines. The web address of the original post is: http://www.vmfa542.com/vmfa542forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=31 [viewed 2016 February 23]

 2009 July 3
Box 1, Folder 11 Parks, Col. W. Hays, USMCR (Ret). Article - "'Semper Fidelis' : Witness to Its Meaning" published in "Leatherneck: Magazine of the Marines"
2.0 pages

 2009 November
Box 1, Folder 11 Davis, Elaine Zimmer - Article "Bringing Jerry and Al Home" published in "Leatherneck: Magazine of the Marines"
6.0 pages

 2009 July
Box 1, Folder 11 MIA Update: Capt Jerry Zimmer, USMC; 1st Lt Al Graf, USMC posted by Elaine Zimmer Davis on pownetwork.org website
3.0 pages

location

Posted on the POW network online forum. The web address for the original is: http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/z/z352.htm [viewed 2016 January 29]

 2010 September
Box 1, Folder 12 Wilkens, John - Article "MIA Vietnam pilot's remains may be found" published by "SignOn San Diego"
5.0 pages

location

Online magazine. The original web address : http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/Feb/21/mia-vietnam-pilots-remains-may-be-found/ [viewed 2010 May 10]

 2010 February 21
Box 1, Folder 12 Biography of Jerry Zimmer by Professor Beth Taylor based on the oral history of Elaine Zimmer Davis
3.0 pages

 2012 August
KPBS News report : Vietnam War Ended 40 Years Ago But Lives On For MIA Families
1.0 item

Contents Note: Published on Apr 23, 2015 KPBS (Television station : San Diego, Calif.). The Vietnam War ended 40 years ago this month, but for the families of 1,600 U.S. service members who remain missing in action, it lives on. KPBS reporter Susan Murphy talked to one MIA family in San Diego about their search for closure. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/wShCJNT1z2E
 2015 April 23

Series 5. Memorials

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 13 Program from Memorial Service at MAG-11 Chapel, Da Nang, Vietnam for Jerry Zimmer and Alfred Graf
2.0 pages

 1969 September 1
Box 1, Folder 14 Veteran's Day Ceremony Brown University Program (2 copies)
4.0 pages


 2010 November 11
Box 1, Folder 14 Davis, Elaine Zimmer, Widow of Capt. Jerry Zimmer'66: Presentation at Brown University's Veteran's Day Tribute
8.0 pages

 2010 November 11
Box 1, Folder 14 Yi, Margaret. "U.S. senators and Brown community honor vets in annual ceremony" published in the Brown Daily Herald.
2.0 pages

 2010 November 12

Series 6. Elaine Zimmer Davis Papers

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 15 Email from David Taylor To Elizabeth Taylor re: Elaine Davis
1.0 page

 2010 April 26
Box 1, Folder 15 Email from David Taylor to Elaine Davis and Elizabeth Taylor introducing the two women
1.0 page


 2010 April 27
Box 1, Folder 16 Inventory of Items Donated by Elaime Zimmer Davis and Craig Zimmer
2.0 pages

 2010 November 11

Series 7. Museum Objects related to Jerry A. Zimmer

Container Description Date
Box 2 Leather Flight Jacket of Jerry A. Zimmer [training?]; patch for LMFA 333, though he last flew with LMFA 542
1.0 item
10 images of one jacket

Contents Note: Inscribed with 1st Lieutenant Jerry Zimmer. Additional patches in pockets.

Subjects:
Air pilots, Military
Airplanes--Piloting
Flight jackets
Flight training
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Aerial operations, American
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American

Names:
Zimmer, Jerry A. (Jerry Allen), 1944-1969
United States. Marine Corps. Uniforms.
United States. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 333.
United States. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542.

 1967-1969
Box 2 Squadron Cap of Jerry A. Zimmer, "Zim", Da Nang 69-70, VMFA 542
1.0 item
9 images of one cap

Contents Note: Inscribed with VMFA-542, "Zim".
 1967-1969
Box 11, Folder 17 Aviator's Flight Log of Jerry A. Zimmer
186.0 pages

Contents Note: "Every military pilot's Bible" -- includes qualification dates, time logs by year and item (for Zimmer: 1967, T-24, T2A, T2-B; 1968, TF-9, F-4, T-1A; 1969, F-4), hop records, including navigator names, safety records, etc. Log book is hardbound measuring approximately 19 cm x 8 cm. The book cover is dark green with gold writing on front cover. It is protected by a handmade cover of red naugahyde.
 1967 March-1969 August
Box 1, Folder 18 R&R Pamphlet : Armed Forces Recreation Center Fort Derussy - Aloha R&R (Map, prices, services and activities)
2.0 pages

 circa 1969
Box 1, Folder 18 R&R Pamphlet: "R&R Leave: A Furlough for the Family", published by TWA airline
20.0 pages

 1968
Box 1, Folder 19 Bronze Star Air Medal Citation for heroic achievement on 13 April 1969 with letter from General L.F. Chapman dated 1969 October 28
3.0 pages

Contents Note: 8x10 inches red leather award folder, awarded posthumously for earlier mission.
 1969 July 25; 1969 October 28
Box 1, Folder 20 Gold Star Air Medal Citation to Jerry Zimmer for heroic achievement on 29 Jume 1969
3.0 pages

Contents Note: 8x10 inches red leather award folder, awarded posthumously for earlier mission.
 1969 October 7
Box 1, Folder 21 U.S. Marine Corps Patch - Phantom II
1.0 item

 circa 1969
Box 1, Folder 21 U.S. Marine Corps Patch - Jerry A. Zimmer CAPT USMC
1.0 item

 circa 1969
Box 1, Folder 21 U.S. Marine Corps Patch - J.A. Zimmer CAPT. USMC (leather)
1.0 item

 circa 1969
Box 1, Folder 21 U.S. Marine Corps Patch - VMFA-542 Tiger/lightning bolts
1.0 item

 circa 1969
Box 1, Folder 21 U.S. Marine Corps Patch - MK4 GUNNPODDER [C. Schulz's ] Snoopy flying an MK Gunpodder "Happiness is V.C. in the open"
1.0 item

 circa 1968