It was these values that Tech. With his last actions, he saved the lives of his teammates. John Chapman, who will receive the Medal of Honor for his bravery later this month. Chapman was on a joint special ops mission when one of his teammates was thrown from the aircraft. “[John] would want to recognize the other men that lost their lives,” said Valerie. John Chapman, holds up the Medal of Honor after receiving it from President Donald J. Trump during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C., Aug. 22, 2018. As he heroically engaged the enemy, he was struck by a burst of gunfire and became critically injured. Sergeant Chapman enlisted in the Air Force on Sept. 27, 1985, as an information systems operator, but felt called to be part of Air Force special operations. Combat control training is more than two years long and amongst the most rigorous in the U.S. military. Chapman was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions on Listen to a small snippet of CMSA... https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-air-force-podcast/id1264107694?mt=2, Our mantra, "Always ready!" – Chief Master Sgt. WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- President Donald Trump will posthumously award the Medal of Honor to the family of a fallen U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controller at a ceremony on Aug. 22 for his extraordinary heroism in March 2002 while deployed to Afghanistan. Michael West, who served with Sergeant Chapman through Combat Control School, a three-year tour in Okinawa, Japan, and at Pope Air Force Base. John Chapman, at the Double Tree Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, Va., Aug. 20, 2018. Sergeant Chapman was originally awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions; however, following a review of Air Force Cross and Silver Star recipients directed by then-Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, the Secretary of the Air Force recommended Sergeant Chapman’s Air Force Cross be upgraded to the Medal of Honor. John Chapman’s heroics during hand-to-hand combat on … Rusty Frank), President Donald J. Trump presents the Medal of Honor to Valerie Nessel, the spouse of U.S. Air Force Tech. President Trump awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor to Air Force Tech Sgt. John enjoyed hunting with his father and brother, working on project cars with friends, and was an avid woodworker. Despite severe wounds, he fought relentlessly, sustaining a violent engagement with multiple enemy personnel before making the ultimate sacrifice. Tune in as our Air Force musicians along with other military musicians are awarded the National Medal of Arts. The Air Force on Wednesday renamed the building at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas used to train special warfare airmen in honor of Master Sgt. The remaining joint special operations team members, fully aware of his precarious situation, immediately began planning a daring rescue attempt that included returning to the top of Takur Ghar where they had just taken heavy enemy fire. A United States Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refuels an F-22 Raptor over northern Iraq, Nov. 6, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. He will forever serve as an example of what it means to be an Airman for us all. Sgt. Despite severe wounds, he fought relentlessly, sustaining a violent engagement with multiple enemy personnel before making the ultimate sacrifice. “This was very high profile, no-fail job, and we picked John,” said retired Air Force Col. Ken Rodriguez, Sergeant Chapman’s commander at the time. The blast ripped through the left side of the Chinook, throwing Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts off the ramp of the helicopter onto the enemy-infested mountaintop below. They had two daughters, who were the center of Sergeant Chapman’s world even when he was away from home – which was common in the combat control career field. John Chapman, during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C., Aug. 22, 2018. He is a true American hero. This is the first Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor in combat, to be given to a member of the U.S. Air Force since the Vietnam war. With his last actions he saved the lives of his teammates. Valerie Nessel, the spouse of U.S. Air Force Tech. Despite severe wounds, he fought relentlessly, sustaining a violent Chapman immediately charged an enemy bunker through thigh-deep snow and killed all enemy occupants. Air Force Special Operations Command kicked off a series of events Oct. 25 to pay tribute to Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Sgt. “I think he would say that his Medal of Honor was not just for him, but for all of the guys who were lost,” she added. Only about one in ten Airmen who start the program graduate. Corporal Matthew Commons – U.S. Army Ranger Despite severe wounds, he fought relentlessly, sustaining a violent engagement with multiple enemy personnel before making the ultimate sacrifice. Chief Master Sgt. Next, Chapman spent three years at the 320th Special Tactics Squadron in Okinawa, Japan. Sergeant Chapman was originally awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions; however, following a review of Air Force Cross and Silver Star recipients directed by then-Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, the Secretary of the Air Force recommended Sergeant Chapman’s Air Force Cross be upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Air Force Tech. “He was just doing his job, and that’s what he would say at this moment.”. He sustained a violent engagement with multiple enemy fighters, for over an hour through the arrival of the quick reaction force, before paying the ultimate sacrifice. In performance of these remarkably heroic actions, Sergeant Chapman is credited with saving the lives of his teammates. Combat control would prove to be another instance of “making it look easy.”. Chapman was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions on Takur Ghar mountain in Afghanistan on March 4, 2002, when his elite special operations team was ambushed by the enemy and came under heavy fire from multiple directions. Chapman will be the 19th Airman awarded the Medal of Honor since the Department of the Air Force was established in 1947. / Published August 22, 2018, Valerie Nessel, the spouse of Tech. Sgt. I share our Airmen's deepest gratitude to the Chapman family, as well as the family members of all those who gave their lives serving our great nation. “We cannot afford to slow our momentum on ABMS. The most prominent cover and concealment on the hilltop were a large rock and tree. Chapman was a dedicated father and husband. Our warfighters and combatant commands must…, “Back then, we didn’t have drones—you had to shoot your enemy down your damn self.” - World War II Ace Clarence “Bu…, One team, one fight ⚔️ Chapman immediately charged an enemy bunker through A combat controller, Chapman is the 19th airman awarded the Medal of Honor since the Air Force was established in 1947. John Chapman at the White House in Washington, D.C., Aug. 22, 2018. Valerie Nessel, the spouse of U.S. Air Force Tech. Approximately 100 AFSOC Airmen, community and national leaders gathered to observe the event commemorating Chapman’s life. While deployed, he directed close air support aircraft, delivering destructive ordnance on enemy targets in non-permissive environments. John Chapman’s Medal Of Honor. Read The Full Citation For Air Force Tech Sgt. Chapman was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions on Takur Ghar mountain in Afghanistan on March 4, 2002. Although Sergeant Chapman will be awarded the Medal of Honor, family and friends have expressed his humility and how he would react today, if he were here. John Chapman, during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C., June 26, 2018. He gave his life protecting troops in Afghanistan. Airmen trained w/, A desire to serve Sergeant Chapman, upon exiting the helicopter, immediately charged uphill through the snow toward enemy positions while under heavy fire from three directions. Alone, against the elements and separated from his team with enemy personnel closing in, Petty Officer Roberts was in desperate need of support. 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