R.I.P. Sgt. Zachary J. Walters

Marine Sgt. Zachary J. Walters
Died June 08, 2010 serving during Operation Enduring Freedom

24, of Palm Coast, Fla.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died June 8 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations. Also killed was Sgt. Derek L. Shanfield.

(The following was taken from interceder.net) Under a cloud-covered Friday afternoon, Sgt. Zachary J. Walters, 24, received a soldier's burial at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

A liberty bell rang solemnly under still clouds as the funeral procession approached.

Walters died June 8 while on deployment in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He and a fellow soldier in his platoon were killed after stepping on a land mine. He had just arrived in Afghanistan on May 10.

"He was excited about going," said grandmother Bobbie Walters of Irving. "It was his life."

He already had five years in the service and had just re-signed for four more.

"He was high-caliber," said Staff Sgt. Michael Howard.

Walters was born in Saudia Arabia. He lived in Saudi Arabia; Irving, Texas and St. Croix, Virgin Islands while growing up.

His mother, Gina Walters of Decatur, said he developed the traits of a soldier and a leader throughout his youth.

"I had no idea how beloved he was by his fellow soldiers until today," she said.

An example of his devotion to his fellow Marines and selflessness was relayed in a letter by 1st Lt. Nick Thompson, his platoon leader.

"When he re-signed for four more years, he spent some of his signing bonus to purchase equipment for his men," the letter said. "Not because they didn't have good equipment, but because he knew of something better."