Lance Corporal Andrew Zabierek joined the Marine Corps, June 18, 2002, and served faithfully and honorably until he was killed in Iraq during hostile action on May 21, 2004.

He was a graduate of Chelmsford High School (1996) and attended Clemson University. He was awarded a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2000. He used that degree to work as a financial advisor in Massachusetts for two years. However, following September 11th, he felt an obligation to serve his country and joined the Marine Corps. He graduated from Marine Corps Basic Training at Parris Island, South Carolina, and School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, NC, where he was permanently stationed until his deployment to Al Anbar, Iraq in March, 2004. He was part of the 2nd Marine Expenditionary Unit and was his platoon’s Arabic interpreter, routinely interacting as a liaison between US forces and Iraqi nationals. On May 21, 2004 his fire team was responding to a mortar attack in Fallujah, Iraq, when he was struck by an Iraqi vehicle while crossing a six lane highway, while under fire.

He is buried in Pine Ridge Cemetery in Chelmsford, MA. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, and also earned the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Rifle Marksman Badge.