Chief Master Sgt. Michael West, a comrade of Sergeant Chapman from Combat Control School and deployments in Okinawa, Japan, and Pope Air Force Base, fondly remembers him as a dedicated father. “He would come home from a long trip and immediately have on his father hat – feeding, bathing, reading and getting his girls ready for bed,” West recalled. “They were his life and he was proud of them…to the Air Force he was a great hero…what I saw was a great father.” This sentiment encapsulates the multi-faceted nature of John Chapman – a loving family man and an extraordinary Air Force hero.
In March 2002, during Operation Anaconda, small reconnaissance teams were deployed to establish observation posts in strategic Afghan locations. Their mission was to identify enemy targets and guide U.S. air power for their destruction. The mountain of Takur Ghar, offering exceptional visibility across key areas, was deemed an ideal location for such a post. Sergeant Chapman and his joint special operations team were tasked with establishing a reconnaissance position on Takur Ghar on the night of March 3rd, with the objective of reporting al Qaeda movements in the Sahi-Kowt area.
Retired Air Force Col. Ken Rodriguez, Sergeant Chapman’s commander at the time, emphasized the critical nature of the mission and the exceptional qualities of Chapman. “This was very high profile, no-fail job, and we picked John,” Rodriguez stated. “In a very high-caliber career field, with the highest quality of men – even then – John stood out as our guy.” This selection speaks volumes about Sergeant Chapman’s reputation and competence within the elite special operations community.
The operation on Takur Ghar, however, took a tragic turn during the initial insertion on March 4th. The MH-47 “Chinook” helicopter carrying Sergeant Chapman and his team was ambushed. A rocket-propelled grenade and a barrage of bullets struck the aircraft. The explosion tore through the Chinook’s left side, tragically ejecting Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts from the helicopter ramp onto the enemy-held mountaintop below.
Critically damaged and unable to retrieve Petty Officer Roberts, the helicopter executed a controlled crash landing a few miles from Takur Ghar. This unfortunate event set in motion a series of heroic actions by joint special operations forces, resulting in the loss of seven American lives and, years later, the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Sergeant John Chapman.
Petty Officer Roberts was now alone, exposed to the elements and with enemy forces closing in. His situation was dire, demanding immediate support. Knowing the immense risk, the remaining members of the special operations team bravely initiated a rescue mission, planning to return to the summit of Takur Ghar, the very location where they had just endured intense enemy fire.
As the team approached Petty Officer Roberts’ last known location aboard a second MH-47, they were once again met with a barrage of heavy enemy fire. Despite sustaining significant damage, the helicopter managed to deploy the special operations team before retreating to base. Sergeant Chapman, upon disembarking, immediately charged uphill through deep snow towards the enemy positions, facing heavy fire from three directions.
Upon reaching the ground, the team quickly assessed the situation and moved to higher ground. A large rock and a tree offered the most substantial cover on the exposed hilltop. As they approached the tree, Sergeant Chapman encountered fire from two enemy combatants in a fortified position. He swiftly returned fire, aggressively charged the enemy emplacement, and neutralized the threat.
Almost instantaneously, the team was subjected to machine-gun fire from another fortified enemy position, a mere 12 meters away. Sergeant Chapman, without hesitation, deliberately moved into the open to engage this new enemy threat. During this courageous act, he was struck by a burst of gunfire and sustained critical injuries.
Despite his severe wounds, Sergeant Chapman continued to fight relentlessly. He engaged multiple enemy fighters in a fierce battle for over an hour, holding his position until the arrival of a quick reaction force. Tragically, Sergeant Chapman made the ultimate sacrifice during this prolonged engagement. His extraordinarily heroic actions are credited with saving the lives of his teammates.
Colonel Rodriguez reflected on Sergeant Chapman’s inherent selflessness, noting it wasn’t a trait that emerged solely on Takur Ghar. “John was always selfless – it didn’t just emerge on Takur Ghar – he had always been selfless and highly competent, and thank God for all those qualities,” Col. Rodriguez said. “He could have hunkered down in the bunker and waited for the (Quick Reaction Force) and (Combat Search and Rescue) team to come in, but he assessed the situation and selflessly gave his life for them.”
Sergeant Chapman was initially awarded the Air Force Cross for his valorous actions. However, following a review of Air Force Cross and Silver Star recipients, directed by the then-Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, the Secretary of the Air Force recommended upgrading Sergeant Chapman’s Air Force Cross to the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor.
In accordance with Air Force policy, Medal of Honor recipients are posthumously promoted one rank. Sergeant Chapman was promoted to master sergeant on September 1, 2018. Despite this prestigious recognition, those who knew John Chapman best believe he would have remained humble.
Chief Master Sergeant West stated, “If John were to find out he received the Medal of Honor, he would be very humbled and honored. He was just doing his job, and that’s what he would say at this moment.” His widow, Valerie Nessel, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing John’s humility and his desire to recognize his fallen comrades.
“[John] would want to recognize the other men that lost their lives,” Valerie explained. “Even though he did something he was awarded the Medal of Honor for, he would not want the other guys to be forgotten – that they were part of the team together.” She further added, “I think he would say that his Medal of Honor was not just for him, but for all of the guys who were lost.”
In total, seven American service members perished in the Battle of Takur Ghar, each demonstrating immense bravery:
- Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts – U.S. Navy SEAL
- Technical Sergeant John Chapman – U.S. Air Force combat control
- Senior Airman Jason Cunningham – U.S. Air Force pararescue
- Corporal Matthew Commons – U.S. Army Ranger
- Sergeant Bradley Crose – U.S. Army Ranger
- Specialist Marc Anderson – U.S. Army Ranger
- Sergeant Philip Svitak – U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment
Colonel Rodriguez offered a fitting tribute to all who fought on Takur Ghar, stating, “John would have, so I’ll say it for him. Every American who set foot on that mountaintop acted with great courage and selflessness, and deserve all of our praise and admiration for the sacrifices they made.” The story of John Chapman serves as a powerful testament to courage, selflessness, and the enduring bonds of military brotherhood.
