AIR FORCE CROSS AWARDED POSHUMOUSLY TO SGT JOHN CHAPMAN

Fox News | 1-10-03 | Fox News

[DWar]

Fox news just reported the posthumous awarding of the Air Force Cross to Sgt John Chapman.

Medals were given to his widow with his two daughters, to his mother and to his father.

While fighting in Afghanastan, Sgt Chapman was credited with saving the lives of the SEAL team with which he worked by heroic action. While under fire he attacked and secured an enemy machine gun position and immediately began attacking another. He began to take fire from three directions whie enjoying only minimal cover and succumed to his wounds. His SEAL team leader credited Sgt Chapmen with saving the lives of the entire team.

The Air Force Cross is the highest award issued by the United States Air Force.

May God bless this American hero and bless and comfort his greiving family.

[sneakypete]

An American Hero.

Amen,brother,amen!

[sneakypete]

actually, I think he was supposed to get the Air Force Cross..

Actually,that IS what he was awarded. I see nowhere in the article where a MOH is mentioned,although it is a GREAT honor to be awarded the AF Cross,as it is to be awarded the Navy Cross,or the army Distinguished Service Cross. The usual route to all is to nominated for a Medal of Honor,and and having the MOH denied. This takes NOTHING from these various "Crosses",though. It is DAMN rare to see anybody wearing one and there is a very good reason for this. They don't give them away.

[sneakypete]

Windsor Locks, Conn

Ok,boys and girls,let's all get on the stick here and try to pressure the town concil of Windsor Locks,Conn to honor this young airman. If we can't get a high school named after him (the ideal situation in MY opinion),at least we can pressure the town fathers into desiginating a "Sgt.Chapman" day. It's time America's students are once again given REAL heroes to look up to,and a understanding of what American citizenship is worth. Somebody with more patience and knowledge than me needs to start a petition we can all sign,preferably somebody from Conn.

Let's do it. This man needs to be honored,NOT forgotten!

[sneakypete]

In addition I find it quite interesting that many on this thread choose to focus on the award and possible/probable error when my intention was to honor the hero.

That's because many of us are former career military people ourselves,and realize what a heavy-duty "hero badge" the MOH truly is. We don't like to see the term "MOH" thrown around loosely.

Having said that,I personally hold all winners of the various service crosses to the same respect I show actual MOH winners. I know that the usual route to getting one of these awards is to have your MOH award denied. It's a rare thing to see somebody wearing one of these,and it takes a rare amount of courage and determination to earn one.

[sneakypete]

Maybe he was recommended for it and the USAF awards board recommended to the CSAF that he get the AFC instead.

This is something I wouldn't hesitate to bet the farm on.

[DWar]

"We don't like to see the term "MOH" thrown around loosely."

I agree and I don't think it has been anyone on this thread.

[DWar]

See also this: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/820460/posts

[Thank You Rush]

Thank you for posting this link - I was looking for the information on the other young man who had been killed and this was it. Very sad reading but how fortunate we in this country are to have produced the type of person who will give his "all" for his country, liberty and freedom. Will we continue producing them or will the day come when we look around and see only peaceniks protesting our right to keep our country free? Many thanks to all former, current and future defenders of freedom.

[harpseal]

The Ameican Legion and the VFW in Windsor Locks are already on that. We want the State of Connecticut to also honor this young man.

[sneakypete]

The Ameican Legion and the VFW in Windsor Locks are already on that.

EXCELLENT news! Thank you!

[Travis McGee]

I agree!

[spectr17]

NFNS 02-150 Oct. 22, 2002

CLASSMATES, TOWN PAY TRIBUTE TO FALLEN COMBAT CONTROLLER

By Tech. Sgt. Ginger Schreitmueller Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (Night Flyer News Service) – The 1983 Windsor Locks High School yearbook shows a young John Chapman amongst its graduating students.

The star athlete in soccer and swim chose a simple quote to accompany his image. The quote, his classmates said, reflected the integrity and dedication of the team player: "Give of yourself before taking of someone else."

In March 2002, Tech. Sgt. John Chapman -- an Air Force Combat Controller -- was fatally wounded during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Sergeant Chapman was killed when he and several fellow Special Operators attempted to rescue a Navy SEAL who had fallen from a helicopter during Operation Anaconda. Holding to the Special Operations tenet of "Leave No Man Behind," Sergeant Chapman and his team returned to the area where the SEAL was believed to be – in the midst of intense enemy fire – without hesitation.

His childhood friends made a promise to each other to honor their friend and remind all of his selfless team focus shown throughout childhood and his military service.

That promise was fulfilled Oct. 19, when his friends, family and hundreds of people from this small Connecticut town gathered to pay tribute to Sergeant Chapman. The tribute to a man they all knew as "Chappy," included the re-naming of a street to the sergeant and dedicating a granite memorial near his alma mater. "John was more than a national hero; he was 'Chappy,' a fellow classmate and student, a teammate and friend," said Brian Topor, who led the efforts to remember the fallen Combat Controller. "He was a godfather, an uncle and a brother. He was a loving son, and a devoted husband and father."

Mr. Topor was among 10 classmates of Sergeant Chapman who made a pact to pay tribute to the first Connecticut native to die in the nation's global war on terrorism. The classmates helped raise funds and organize two main events to remember "Chappy."

The first event began with a street dedication near the town's Veteran's Memorial Park. The roadway leads to a small memorial dedicated to all the town's veterans, and is surrounded by soccer fields.

"This is a small but important place on this planet to remember John," said Rev. Francis McDonnell, during the invocation at the street dedication ceremony. "He will forever be in our minds and our hearts. (With the renaming of this street as Tech. Sergeant John A. Chapman Way), John will also be in our eyes and his memory will be always."

Sergeant Chapman's sister said the new street is a perfect location to remind others of her brother's accomplishments. "Right behind this field is the old elementary school we went to," said Lori McQueeney. "Johnny spent countless hours playing soccer on the field right here. This will serve to remind us of my brother, and all those who are still doing what Johnny did in defense of our nation."

Chappy's friends then gathered the town at the high school for a dedication of a memorial plaque. Nestled near the school's varsity athlete fields, the plaque sits at the base of the flagpole facing the field where Sergeant Chapman earned varsity honors in soccer.

Honored guests attending the ceremony included the Governor of Connecticut John Rowland; Maj. Gen. Daniel Leaf, Air Force director of operational requirements, deputy chief of staff for air and space operations, representing the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld; Brig. Gen. Ireneusz Zembrzuski, assistant adjutant general-Army, Connecticut National Guard; and, Col. Craig Rith, 720th Special Tactics Group commander.

Mr. Topor reminded those gathered for the ceremony that Chappy's death was a reflection of a "team-first" philosophy he exhibited growing up in Windsor Locks.

"I hope those who have never met John come to know him and be inspired by his zest for life, commitment to teamwork and his understanding and acceptance of those who were less fortunate," said Mr. Topor. "Despite his elite position within the military, John never lost sight of these qualities and values."

Addressing the crowd gathered for the ceremony, including several local high school soccer teams, Mr. Topor battled rain and tears to pay tribute to his friend.

"It is easy to reflect on the days that John played soccer on this very field, swam and dove in the pool and walked through the halls of the school that stand behind us. It is a fitting place to remember John Allan Chapman as his formative years were spent here in Windsor Locks," said Mr. Topor. "It is here he was raised with the values and ambitions that he continued to live by as an adult."

Connecticut's Air National Guard provided a rifle salute and Taps for the ceremony, as well as an A-10 flyover from 103rd Fighter Wing. Maj. Patrick Whelan, from the Connecticut State Police Pipes and Drums Unit, performed "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipe to close the event. Messages from Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary Rumsfeld were presented to Sergeant Chapman's family after the service. The Windsor Locks High School Soccer team hosted a match after the ceremony in tribute of Sergeant Chapman.

Col. Craig Rith, 720th Special Tactics Group commander, tells the family, friends and neighbors about the dedication of Tech. Sgt. John Chapman during the street re-naming ceremony in Windsor Locks, Conn.

The roadway leading to the Windsor Lock Veteran's Memorial Park was re-named "TSgt. John A. Chapman Way" in honor of the Air Force Combat Controller who was killed in Afghanistan, while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

A homemade America Flag rests along the memorial plague dedicated to Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman, an Air Force Combat Controller killed in March 2002. The memorial is located near the high school athletic fields where Sergeant Chapman played varsity soccer. (Photos by Tech. Sgt. Ginger Schreitmueller)

[spectr17]

Executive Summary of the Battle of Takur Ghar (Robert's Ridge)

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2002/d20020524takurghar.pdf

[sargunner]

It is not often that the PJs and CCT members receive the acknowledment for the jobs that they do. As a former Jolly Green crewmember, I have personally witnessed the selfless deeds performed by such men as Cunningham and Chapman. It is only when we lose one of these exceptional men that the AF begrudgingly admits that there are zoomies who do get their hands dirty doing extremely low-tech things. This is not what the AF PR machine wants to admit. .

As a participant in over 100 CSAR ops, the ultimate acknowledgement came from seeing the look on the face of the survivors as they were hoisted aboard. These missions were not always successful and many JG crews never returned. Being a member of the half-mission club myself, I can personally attest that under those circumstances, the most wonderful words that one can hear on your URC is the SANDY lead tell you , "We have your position. Jolly inbound. Pop your smoke on my call" followed by the unmistakable 'Sikorsky Symphony' of minigun fire and rotorwash, and later being greeted by the friendly face of a PJ as he decends on the penetrator as if from the heavens.

Poetic isn't it? But seriously, these men would not characterize their exploits as being 'heroic'. It is just simply what they do.

My heartfelt thoughts go out to the families of these fine young men and also many thanks to all the FRVets for their service.

[sneakypete]

Thank you for posting all that. It does this old heart good to see this young man isn't being swept aside and ignored.Despite the fact that I never met or even heard of him before this,he was my brother.