Douglas A . Zembiec Major Douglas Alexander Zembiec ( April 14 , 1973 – May 11 , 2007 ) , the " Lion of Fallujah " and also referred to as the " Unapologetic Warrior " was an officer in the United States Marine Corps who was killed in action while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom . He is best known for his actions during Operation Vigilant Resolve , which were detailed in the book " No True Glory : A Front - line Account of the Battle of Fallujah " by Bing West and for an article that ran in the Wall Street Journal following his death . Biography . Early life . Doug Zembiec was born on April 14 , 1973 in Kealakekua , Hawaii . He attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque , New Mexico where he was a New Mexico State high school wrestling champion in 1990 and 1991 . As a wrestler , Doug was the first time New Mexico State Champion in any sport and the first repeat winner at La Cueva High School . He was undefeated in competition his senior year . He attended the United States Naval Academy where he was a collegiate wrestler compiling a 95 – 21 – 1 record and finishing as a two - time NCAA All - American . His fellow wrestlers sometimes referred to him as " The Snake " for his anaconda - like grip . Doug was well known amongst his contemporaries throughout his athletic and professional life for his exceptional physical fitness . His coach , Reginald Wicks , referred to him as " the best - conditioned athlete I ’ ve ever been around . " Zembiec graduated from the Academy on May 31 , 1995 ; then served in the U . S . Marine Corps from 1995 until killed in action in 2007 — serving combat tours in Kosovo , Afghanistan , and Iraq . Military career . Upon graduation from the Naval Academy , Zembiec was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps . After finishing The Basic School , and the Infantry Officer ’ s Course , he was assigned to First Battalion , Sixth Marine Regiment as a rifle platoon commander , which was effective starting April 1996 . After successfully passing the Force Reconnaissance indoctrination in June 1997 , he was transferred to 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company , at Camp Lejeune , North Carolina . He served for two and a half years as a platoon commander , eight months as an interim company commander , and one month as an operations officer . Zembiec ’ s Force Reconnaissance platoon was among the first special operations forces to enter Kosovo during Operation Joint Guardian in June 1999 . In September 2000 , he was transferred to the Amphibious Reconnaissance School ( ARS ) located in Ft . Story , Virginia and served as the Assistant Officer - In - Charge ( XO ) for two years . In 2001 , Zembiec competed in the Armed Forces Eco - Challenge as team captain of Team Force Recon Rolls Royce . From ARS , Zembiec was selected to attend the Marine Corps ’ Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico , Virginia graduating in May 2003 . Following the Expeditionary Warfare School he took command of Company E , 2nd Battalion , 1st Marine Regiment , 1st Marine Division in July 2003 . He was named the " Lion of Fallujah " as a result of his heroic actions leading Echo Company 2 / 1 during Operation Vigilant Resolve in 2004 . As a rifle company commander , he led 168 Marines and sailors in the first conventional ground assault into Fallujah , Iraq . He was awarded a Silver Star , Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device and two Purple Heart s due to wounds incurred in action . He turned over command of Echo Company in November 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 . Zembiec transferred from 1st SOTG to the Regional Support Element , Headquarters , Marine Corps on June 10 , 2005 . His promotion to Major was effective on July 1 , 2005 . Death . He was serving his fourth combat tour in Iraq when he was killed by small arms fire while leading a raid in Baghdad on May 11 , 2007 . Zembiec was leading a unit of Iraqi forces he had helped train . Reports from fellow servicemen that were present in the dark Baghdad alley where he was killed indicate that he ' d warned his troops to get down before doing so himself and was hit by enemy fire . The initial radio report indicated " five wounded and one martyred " with Major Zembiec having been killed and his men saved by his warning . On May 16 , 2007 , a funeral mass was held at the Naval Academy Chapel and later that day he was interred at Arlington National Cemetery , Grave Number 8621 , Section Number 60 . Zembiec is buried only a few yards away from his Naval Academy classmate , Major Megan McClung . McClung was the first female Marine Corps officer killed in combat during the Iraq War , and first female graduate in the history of the Naval Academy to be killed in action . In July 2007 , Secretary of Defense Robert Gates publicly lost his composure showing a rare glimpse of emotion from senior political leadership while discussing Major Zembiec during a speech . Major Zembiec was also prominently featured in a high profile " Wall Street Journal " column in September 2007 . In November 2007 , Zembiec ' s high school Alma Mater , La Cueva High School , inducted him as the charter member of their Hall of Fame and named the wrestling room in his honor . The NCAA announced that Zembiec would be awarded the 2008 NCAA Award of Valor . In January 2008 , General David Petraeus , Commanding General Multi - National Force – Iraq ( MNF - I ) dedicated the Helipad at Camp Victory located at Baghdad International Airport in Zembiec ' s name . He referred to Zembiec as a " a true charter member of the brotherhood of the close fight . " " Douglas Zembiec is survived by his parents , Mr . and Mrs . Don Zembiec , brother , and his wife and daughter , Pamela and Fallyn . On May 11 , 2009 , a petition was presented to the Secretary of the Navy to have the next Arleigh Burke class destroyer to be commissioned named after Zembiec . The swimming pool located at the Marine Corps ' Henderson Hall is named in honor of Major Zembiec . By order of the Commandant of the Marine Corps , the Douglas A . Zembiec Award for Outstanding Leadership in Special Operations was created on April 11th , 2011 to annually " recognize the Marine officer who best exemplifies outstanding leadership as a Team Leader in the Marine Corps Special Operations Community . " Quotes . Major Zembiec left many volumes of personal writings behind , some of which were shared at his funeral . The final words of the eulogy , delivered by his friend Eric L . Kapitulik , have evolved into a new credo for many members of the USMC and USMIL communities at large , amounting to what Kapitulik said was a summary of Zembiec himself . Kapitulik said the creed came from the man who knew Zembiec the longest , as indicated by the Major ' s written description : " Principles my father taught me . " Other quotes : Awards . Zembiec ' s military decorations include :