Fallen Windsor Locks Soldier Awarded Medal Of Honor

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT - Sgt. John Chapman of Windsor Locks was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor at a ceremony today. Chapman was a Windsor Locks native and member of the Air Force who died in Afghanistan in an effort to save the lives of his fellow soldiers.

"We are gathered together this afternoon to pay tribute to a fallen warrior, a great warrior, Technical Sergeant John Chapman, and to award him our nation's highest and most revered military honor," President Donald Trump said at the Wednesday ceremony. "In a final act of supreme courage, John gave his life for his fellow warriors. Through his extraordinary sacrifice, John helped save more than 20 soldiers."

Chapman's wife, Valerie Nessel, accepted the award. She was joined by other family members and members of the military who served with Chapman at the White House ceremony.

Trump noted in his comments that Chapman is the first special tactics airman to earn the Medal of Honor.

Chapman graduated from Windsor Locks High School in 1983. In 1985, he joined the Air Force where he became an expert in reconnaissance operations, air traffic control and terminal attack control operations.
On March 4, 2002, he died in a battle in the Takur Ghar mountains. Chapman's aircraft was under heavy enemy fire by a rocket-propelled grenade. One of his teammates was ejected from the aircraft and the damaged helicopter landed in the valley bellow.

Chapman and other joint special operations team members ventured into the snowy mountains in an effort to save the stranded soldier.

"Sergeant Chapman charged into enemy fire through harrowing conditions, seized an enemy bunker, and killed its enemy occupants," according to a statement from the White House. "He then moved from cover to engage a machine gun firing on his team from a second bunker. While engaging this position, he was severely wounded by enemy gunfire. Despite severe wounds, he continued to fight relentlessly, sustaining a violent engagement with multiple enemy personnel before paying the ultimate sacrifice. Sergeant Chapman's heroic actions, at the cost of his life, are credited with saving the lives of his teammates."

Governor Dannel Malloy also praised Chapman's contributions in a statement: “Nobody is more deserving of the Medal of Honor than Sergeant Chapman – he is a hero who represents the best of Connecticut and the United States. The actions that he took in Afghanistan to protect his teammates at the sacrifice of his own life are extraordinary and deserving of the highest respect of our nation. He will never be forgotten, and we will continue to honor his legacy.”

Image via White House/YouTube