Retired Army Sgt. Leslie Zimmerman spent four years of her life as a combat medic, trying to put injured friends and comrades back together. Now, she is working to heal the hearts of children left behind when a parent is deployed.

 

After seeing the impact her sister’s deployment had on her two children, Zimmerman was inspired to write a children’s book.  She commemorated Veteran’s Day in Utah Valley University’s bookstore, where she held a book signing for “When Mom is Deployed”.  It’s the second version of her earlier release “When Dad is Deployed”.

 

Zimmerman now has children of her own. She understands the sacrifice of service for military families. “My hope is that these books will bring an understanding about deployments to young children, and inspire these same children to do their best while their parents are deployed, and give them a sense of comfort, hope and pride,” she said.

 

Along with helping children, she hopes to help parents learn how to talk about deployment with their children. “This book can help parents open that conversation in a gentle way.”

 

In 2003, Zimmerman deployed to Kuwait and entered Iraq at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, during the first invasion. She received an Army Commendation Medal for her actions as a medic while deployed.

 

She was honorably discharged after developing PTSD from what she saw as a medic. Upon returning from deployment, Zimmerman attended Primary Leadership Development Course and graduated on the Commander’s list, and received the top leadership award. She later became an EMT-Intermediate.

 

Zimmerman began mountain biking, and currently serves as an ambassador and staff member for Continue Mission, a Utah based non-profit organization that serves disabled veterans and their families.

 

In 2015, she participated in the Warrior 100K in Texas, riding alongside President George W. Bush. The event, part of the Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative, is a 100-kilometer mountain bike ride for United States military personnel seriously injured or wounded since Sept. 11 2001. Of the 17 veterans chosen for the ride that year, Zimmerman was the only woman.

 

Zimmerman was drawn to attend school at UVU for several reasons. A few of her siblings had attended UVU, the admissions process was less overwhelming, and she knew the Veteran Success Center on campus was a great resource. She is pursuing her bachelor’s degree at UVU, studying public health. She will graduate this December.

 

 

University Marketing & Communications:

Scott Trotter

801-863-6807 | [email protected]

Barb Smith

801-863-5274|[email protected]

 

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 About Utah Valley University

 

At 39,931 students and growing, Utah Valley University is the largest public university in the state of Utah, and one of a few in the nation offering a dual-mission model that combines the rigor and richness of a first-rate teaching university with the openness and vocational programs of a community college. UVU’s unique model, which focuses on student success, engaged learning, rigorous academic programs and faculty-mentored research, is transforming higher education by making it more affordable and accessible to students of all backgrounds.