Chelmsford Marine reported killed in Iraq
A Marine corporal from Chelmsford was killed in Iraq on Friday, two weeks short of his 26th birthday, US Representative Martin T. Meehan said in statement released by his office late yesterday.
Andrew Zabierek, 25, died just south of Baghdad after being hit by a vehicle that officials believe was driven by an Iraqi, Meehan said. The cause of death is under investigation by the Department of Defense, said Meehan, a Lowell Democrat.
A member of the Second Marine Division, Second Battalion, Zabierek was deployed to Iraq in March.
Reached at home last night, a man who identified himself as Zabierek's father declined to comment.
Meehan said he contacted the family yesterday to offer his condolences after hearing of the death from a friend of the family. Meehan said he knew the family because he had nominated Zabierek's younger brother, Mark, for the US Air Force Academy. "Andrew answered his call to duty and made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of the United States, Iraq, and the world," Meehan said. "We owe him all a debt of gratitude." 