Family recalls Zimmerman

    James Zimmerman loved life!
    He loved the Marines.
    He told his cousin Sam (he loved his cousins), when he was nine years old, that he would grow up to be a Marine. He spent more of his life dressed up than not! We still find his homemade wooden guns, bows/arrows, knives of rock, uniforms, notebooks with battle plans/stories/war buddies.
Contributed photo
ON THE JOB — Lt. James Zimmerman while on assignment.
    He also told Sam that Jesus died for his sins and that he needed to believe that to be able to go to Heaven when he died.
    James loved God.
    James loved his sister Meghan. He was her protector always!
    He was who his brother Christian dressed up as [when portraying] a bike accident victim, blood transfusion and all — he loved his brother!
    James ran, worked out with his Dad and competed with him to carry his Marine full gear and Tom won (we think)!
    James loved all his animals — Bonnie dog, LTcat, Chico horse, Rosie cow and slept, walked, spent time with them all.
    James loved his GHCA friends Scott, Jon, Chad and those at UMO/NROTC.
    James loved his Gram Althea Zimmerman.
    He loved his beautiful wife, Lynel and planned to begin their family when he returned from Afghanistan.
    He loved his Mom a lot and always picked her flowers and even sent them from Boot Camp and training at 29 Palms, Calif. and found her heart-shaped rocks.
    James loved all his Marine Boot Camp training and said he knew “why” they had to do these things. He loved his “boys” and had such compassion for their hard life at home as kids and difficulties in life they had now.
    He loved his country. He knew on March 21, 2003, as he raised his hand and gave his life to his country as a Marine, that he would go to war.
    He loved his men as they served “over there” and would never not lead them from the front. He loved the Afghan children and loved building a school, “his school” for them.
    On November 2, 2010, he and his men had been on patrol and battled their way back when they heard more battle. He turned his men to face the battle one last time.
    James loved life and that is why he did what he did. We thank God for his life with us and love him so.
Mom, Dad, Christian, Meghan,
Lynel, Gram and so many more.