thedrifter
09-29-06, 08:00 AM
Sept. 29, 2006, 12:14AM
Childhood friend keeps promise to fallen Marine
Each vowed to comfort the other's family if anything ever happened
Associated Press
ROUND ROCK — Childhood friends Christopher Zimmerman and Tomas Natal promised one another that if anything should ever happen to them, they would comfort each other's family.
On Thursday, Natal was working to fulfill that promise during a service remembering his 28-year-old friend at United Heritage Center at the Dell Diamond.
Zimmerman, a staff sergeant with the Marines, was killed Sept. 20 during combat operations in Al Anbar province in Iraq.
"He never liked anyone being bullied around," Natal said in a story in today's Austin American-Statesman. "There are no words to describe how great a guy he was."
During the service, Zimmerman's family received the state flag that was flown at the Texas Capitol in the soldier's memory. And the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle group that pays tribute to fallen soldiers, held 50 American flags at the entrance.
Friends say Zimmerman liked working on cars, doing motocross and playing sports.
As kids, he and Natal lived on the same street and the two would fight at the bus stop. Until one day they decided to become friends and remained close into adulthood, Natal said.
In 1996, Zimmerman graduated from McNeil High School, where he had played football.
He joined the Marines in 1997 and served as the flight chief of Huey helicopters at Camp Pendleton in California.
After completing a five-year stint, he served in the Marine Reserves. He rejoined the Marines after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, serving tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The last time Natal and Zimmerman saw each other was in April, before Zimmerman left for Iraq.
"I told him take care and God bless," Natal said. "He was a unique man. He'll always be our hero."
Ellie
Childhood friend keeps promise to fallen Marine
Each vowed to comfort the other's family if anything ever happened
Associated Press
ROUND ROCK — Childhood friends Christopher Zimmerman and Tomas Natal promised one another that if anything should ever happen to them, they would comfort each other's family.
On Thursday, Natal was working to fulfill that promise during a service remembering his 28-year-old friend at United Heritage Center at the Dell Diamond.
Zimmerman, a staff sergeant with the Marines, was killed Sept. 20 during combat operations in Al Anbar province in Iraq.
"He never liked anyone being bullied around," Natal said in a story in today's Austin American-Statesman. "There are no words to describe how great a guy he was."
During the service, Zimmerman's family received the state flag that was flown at the Texas Capitol in the soldier's memory. And the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle group that pays tribute to fallen soldiers, held 50 American flags at the entrance.
Friends say Zimmerman liked working on cars, doing motocross and playing sports.
As kids, he and Natal lived on the same street and the two would fight at the bus stop. Until one day they decided to become friends and remained close into adulthood, Natal said.
In 1996, Zimmerman graduated from McNeil High School, where he had played football.
He joined the Marines in 1997 and served as the flight chief of Huey helicopters at Camp Pendleton in California.
After completing a five-year stint, he served in the Marine Reserves. He rejoined the Marines after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, serving tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The last time Natal and Zimmerman saw each other was in April, before Zimmerman left for Iraq.
"I told him take care and God bless," Natal said. "He was a unique man. He'll always be our hero."
Ellie