Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Award of Air Force Cross to John A. Chapman

Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 15, 2023

1. Award of Air Force Cross to John A. Chapman Marker

Inscription.

Award of Air Force Cross to John A. Chapman. . Citation to Accompany the Award of The Air Force Cross to John A. Chapman . Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy of the United States as a 24th Special Tactics Squadron Combat Controller in the vicinity of Gardez, in the eastern highlands of Afghanistan. On 4 March 2002, during his helicopter insertion for a reconnaissance and time-sensitive targeting close air support mission, Sergeant Chapman's aircraft came under heavy machine gun fire and received a direct hit from a rocket propelled grenade. A United States Navy Sea-Air-Land team member fell from the aircraft. Though heavily damaged, the aircraft made an emergency landing seven kilometers away. Once on the ground Sergeant Chapman made contact with an AC-130 gunship to insure the area was secure while providing close air support for the entire team. He then directed the gunship to begin the search for the missing team member. He requested, coordinated, and controlled the helicopter that extracted the stranded team and aircrew members, limiting their exposure to hostile fire. Without regard for his own life, Sergeant Chapman volunteered to rescue his missing team member from an enemy stronghold. Shortly after insertion, Sergeant Chapman engaged and killed two enemy personnel. He continued to advance, and engaged a dug-in machine gun nest. When the rescue team came under effective enemy fire from three directions, Sergeant Chapman exchanged fire with the enemy from minimum personal cover until he succumbed to multiple wounds. His actions enabled his team to move to cover and break enemy contact, saving the lives of the entire rescue team. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, and in the dedication of his service to his country, Sergeant Chapman reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Citation to Accompany the Award of
The Air Force Cross
to
John A. Chapman
Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy of the United States as a 24th Special Tactics Squadron Combat Controller in the vicinity of Gardez, in the eastern highlands of Afghanistan. On 4 March 2002, during his helicopter insertion for a reconnaissance and time-sensitive targeting close air support mission, Sergeant Chapman's aircraft came under heavy machine gun fire and received a direct hit from a rocket propelled grenade. A United States Navy Sea-Air-Land team member fell from the aircraft. Though heavily damaged, the aircraft made an emergency landing seven kilometers away. Once on the ground Sergeant Chapman made contact with an AC-130 gunship to insure the area was secure while providing close air support for the entire team. He then directed the gunship to begin the search for the missing team member. He requested, coordinated, and controlled the helicopter that extracted the stranded team and aircrew members, limiting their exposure to hostile fire. Without regard for his own life, Sergeant Chapman volunteered to rescue his missing team member from an enemy stronghold. Shortly after insertion,

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Sergeant Chapman engaged and killed two enemy personnel. He continued to advance, and engaged a dug-in machine gun nest. When the rescue team came under effective enemy fire from three directions, Sergeant Chapman exchanged fire with the enemy from minimum personal cover until he succumbed to multiple wounds. His actions enabled his team to move to cover and break enemy contact, saving the lives of the entire rescue team. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, and in the dedication of his service to his country, Sergeant Chapman reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Erected 2004 by Maxwell-Gunter AFSNCOA Class 04-B.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, Afghanistan. In addition, it is included in the Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross Recipients series list.

Location. 32° 24.265′ N, 86° 14.977′ W. Marker is in Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama, in Montgomery County. Memorial can be reached from the intersection of McDonald Street and Avenue D. Located at the USAF Senior NCO Academy at the Gunter Annex and requires base access. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 550 McDonald St, Montgomery AL 36114, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

AF Cross updated to the Medal of Honor. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 15, 2023

2. AF Cross updated to the Medal of Honor.

Chapman was inducted into the Hall of Heroes on August 23, 2018, and posthumously promoted to Master Sergeant on the following day. Chapman was also the first Air Force combat controller to be awarded the Air Force Cross. His award was subsequently upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Award of Air Force Cross to Jon D. Harston (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Zachary J. Rhyner (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Timothy A. Wilkinson (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Jason D. Cunningham (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Charles D. McGrath (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Keary J.Miller (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Charles L. Schaub (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Robert Gutierrez, Jr. (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex.

Regarding Award of Air Force Cross to John A. Chapman. John A. Chapman ("Chappy") was killed on a rescue mission during Operation Anaconda on March 4, 2002, in Afghanistan.

The MV TSgt John A. Chapman (T-AK-323), a Military Sealift Command Buffalo Soldier-class container ship was renamed for Pope Air Force Base combat controller Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman, on 8 April 2005.

Announced in April, 2018, Chapman will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on August 22, 2018, and would be the first airman to receive a Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor, for

Wide view of AF Cross memorial plaques. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 23, 2016

3. Wide view of AF Cross memorial plaques.

actions since the Vietnam War.

Also see . . . Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Chapman's Medal of Honor Citation. (Submitted on April 16, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

SSgt John A. Chapman image. Click for full size.

Photographed By USAF Photo

4. SSgt John A. Chapman

Enlisted Air Force Cross Description image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 23, 2016

5. Enlisted Air Force Cross Description

The AF Cross is awarded for extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy, to any person while serving with the U.S. Air Force, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing enemy force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces, engaged in conflict against an opposing force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. It is awarded for heroic actions second in precedence only to the Medal of Honor and is presented in the name of the President. It was established by Congress by Public Law 88-593 on 6 July 1960.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 490 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 16, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 27, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.