War Hero known as the “Lion of Fallujah”

Two-Time Wrestling State Champion

All-American Wrestler at the Naval Academy

Doug Zembiec, class of 1991, was a two-time State Champion in wrestling and was an All-American wrestler at the Naval Academy. Doug was a La Cueva athlete who ran cross country and wrestled.  He was also a Naval Academy graduate, US Marine, and War Hero who made the ultimate sacrifice when he lost his life in Iraq.  Major Zembiec is known as the "Lion of Fallujah”.

Doug was born on April 14, 1973 in Kealakekua, HI. He attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated with the class of 1995. He was a two time NCAA All – American Wrestler. Upon graduation Major Zembiec was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on May 31, 1995.

After finishing The Basic School, and the Infantry Office’s Course, he was assigned to First Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment as a rifle platoon commander in April of 1996. In June of 1997, after successfully passing the force reconnaissance indoctrination, he was transferred to Second Force Reconnaissance Company, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Where he served for two and one half years as a platoon commander, eight months as an interim company commander, and one month a an operations officer. As a platoon commander, Zembiec’s force reconnaissance platoon was among the first conventional forces to enter Kosovo during Operation Joint Guardian in June of 1999.

In September of 2000, he transferred to the Amphibious Reconnaissance School (ARS) located in Ft. Story, Virginia and served as the Assistant Officer-In-Charge (XO) for two years. From ARS, Zembiec was selected to attend the Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia. He graduated EWS in May 2003.

After Graduating EWS, Zembiec took command of Company “E”, Second Battalion, First Marine Regiment in July 2003. As a rifle company commander, he led 168 Marines and sailors in the first conventional ground assault into Fallujah, Iraq during Operation Vigilant Resolve. He turned over his command in November of 2004 and served as an assistant operations officer at the Marine Corps’ First Special Operations Training Group (1st SOTG) where he ran the urban patrolling/ Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) and tank-infantry training packages for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in preparation for an upcoming deployment to Iraq. Doug transferred from 1st SOTG to the Regional Support Element, Headquarters, Marine Corps on 10 June 2005. His Promotion to Major was effective on July 1, 2005.

His personal awards include:
Bronze Star Medal with Distinguished Device
Purple Heart (2)
Combat Action Ribbon (2)
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3)
Navy and Marine Corps Comm. Medal (2)
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2)
NATO Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Navy Unit Commendation
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal (2)
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Silver Star

Douglas is survived by his beloved wife Pamela and daughter Fallyn Justice Zembiec. He is also survived by his parents Don and Jo Ann Zembiec and his brother John Zembiec.