In one of those life is stranger than fiction moments the Washington Post reported a highly decorated Marine officer was killed leading an elite counter terrorist team for the CIA in 2007.

Major Douglas Alexander Zembiec who earned the moniker “The Lion of Fallujah” was working for the CIA’s “Special Activities Division” when he was killed by gunfire in a night time raid in Sadr City.  Zembiec earned his name from the letters he wrote where he often described his Marines as fighting like lions.  Zembiec himself was awarded a purple Heart and Bronze Star with valor for climbing on top of a tank in the middle of the street while under fire to direct the tanks fire against a building that was engaging his troops.  Zembiec was also awarded a Silver Star for his actions the night he was killed.

Zembiec joined the CIA in 2005 while serving as a Marine Special Operations officer.  His parents felt he made the move to stay in a combat related role vs. staff positions which would be expected of a senior Marine captain.  Zembiec was also a Naval Academy graduate and adept wrestler.  His wife has written a book about her husband, Selfless Beyond Service: A Story about the Husband, Son and Father Behind the Lion of Fallujah.  Zembiec has an anonymous star chiseled into the Memorial Wall at Langley, the Cia’s headquarters.