#VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Zacharias Buob

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Zacharias Buob, a special warfare combatant-craft crewman who served for 20 years until his death in 2015.

Born in November 1975, Zacharias Buob was raised in San Jose, California. He loved riding motorcycles as well as dirt bikes throughout his life with his dad and friends. Buob was always active as a child, participating in a variety of sports, including judo, karate, soccer and baseball. In 1995, he enlisted in the Navy with the goal of becoming an elite special warfare combatant-craft crewman (SWCC), which he eventually accomplished.

Prior to joining SWCC, Buob served as a gunner’s mate aboard USS Antietam. In the SWCC, he served as a chief special warfare boat operator and served multiple tours overseas. In addition to special reconnaissance, he operated on and around rivers and coastal regions. His last assignment was as a chief petty officer at Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command (ATC) in Coronado, California. For his participation in Special Warfare Command training during his deployment in Africa, he received a certificate of recognition and a Crystal Diamond award.

On May 28, 2015, Buob died in a fatal motorcycle accident in Chula Vista, California. He passed at the age of 39 and was an admired member of the Navy’s special warfare community.

We honor his service.

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Contributors

Writer: Claire Pei

Editor: Elissa Tatum

Fact checker: Monique Quihuis

Graphic artist: Michelle Zischke