Dan Antion

The Ultimate Price – Recognition

Strong breeze – stronger flag.

Yesterday, NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 featured the “600 Miles of Remembrance” as 40 cars displayed the name of a fallen soldier on its windshield. Car number 19, driven by Martin Truex Jr. featured the name John A. Chapman. Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman is a name some of my eagle-eyed regular readers might find familiar. It is often featured in the photos of my blog posts. John Chapman grew up in Windsor Locks, CT. He was living and working in Windsor Locks when he joined the Air Force in 1986. It seems he served multiple times, including after the attacks in September 2001. He died in combat on March 4, 2002. He was 36 years old, the first Connecticut resident to die in Afghanistan and he died trying to save the troops with him after their helicopter was shot down.

Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2018, the first airman to receive the Nation’s highest honor since the Vietnam War.

I thought about titling this post “Hometown Hero,” but I didn’t know John Chapman, and Windsor Locks isn’t my hometown. I moved to Windsor Locks in 1983, just as John Chapman was about to graduate from Windsor Locks High School.

That’s how it is with heroes. Most of us didn’t know most of them. Still, they died in service to our country. Regardless of how you feel about the mission they were on when they died, you have to respect the fact that they answered a call of duty, they trained, they served and they died – for us.

Below (copied from Wikipedia) are the words of the citation accompanying his Medal of Honor.

Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as an Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controller, attached to a Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Team conducting reconnaissance operations in Takur Ghar, Afghanistan, on March 4, 2002. During insertion, the team’s helicopter was ambushed causing a teammate to fall into an entrenched group of enemy combatants below. Sergeant Chapman and the team voluntarily reinserted onto the snow-capped mountain, into the heart of a known enemy stronghold to rescue one of their own. Without regard for his own safety, Sergeant Chapman immediately engaged, moving in the direction of the closest enemy position despite coming under heavy fire from multiple directions. He fearlessly charged an enemy bunker, up a steep incline in thigh-deep snow and into hostile fire, directly engaging the enemy. Upon reaching the bunker, Sergeant Chapman assaulted and cleared the position, killing all enemy occupants. With complete disregard for his own life, Sergeant Chapman deliberately moved from cover only 12 meters from the enemy, and exposed himself once again to attack a second bunker, from which an emplaced machine gun was firing on his team. During this assault from an exposed position directly in the line of intense fire, Sergeant Chapman was struck and injured by enemy fire. Despite severe, mortal wounds, he continued to fight relentlessly, sustaining a violent engagement with multiple enemy personnel before making the ultimate sacrifice. By his heroic actions and extraordinary valor, sacrificing his life for the lives of his teammates, Technical Sergeant Chapman upheld the highest traditions of military service and reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The circumstances of Technical Sergeant Chapman’s death in battle were certainly heroic. The circumstances of his being recognized for his sacrifice are less clear. I will not go into that story. You can look up his story. There is supposed to be / may already be a book about him, and the book is supposed to be turned into a feature film.

For those readers outside the US, today is Memorial Day in the United States. A day when we honor the brave men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. I think of the Veterans of Windsor Locks every time Maddie and I go for a walk. On the days when we enter the park, we enter via Technical Sergeant Chapman Way.

When Maddie and I enter this park, I think of friends and family members who served in the military, especially my father and my father-in-law.
I didn’t know TSgt. Chapman, but I remember when he died and I remember when they changed the name of this road.
The flags in Connecticut had been at half staff for about six weeks in honor of the Corona virus victims in the state. They returned to full staff on Wednesday when the state began to open. This flag was removed, so it could be replaced.
The flag in Veterans Park – windy day
Once again at half staff. This time, by order of the president to recognize the nearly 100,000 people who have died from the Corona virus.
“Go away!” MiMi was planning to sleep in.
Smokey, on the run.
Smokey in our neighbor’s oak tree.
Do you see the little guy looking at me as I try to photograph the lilac?
Do you see him now?
“OK, now that I’m up, what on earth do you want?”
I don’t think it’s a good idea to bother MuMu right now.
“I think Sammy is coming for a peanut. You brought them, right?”

51 comments

  6. Very moving Memorial Day post Dan. Thank you Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman, and all the men and women who have served in our military and made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us free. You will never be forgotten.
    🐾Ginger 🐾

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Just wonderful, Dan. And to think John Chapman was just a kid graduating from high school when you moved to town. Yes, that’s how it is with heroes. Thank you for remembering. Never forget.

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Thanks, Dan, for reminding us all of what Memorial Day commemorates. It’s not about cookouts, the beach, or the opening of the pool–it’s about the remembering the sacrifice of countless men and women who died in service to our country. Sometimes we aggregate them all together into a faceless group, but the details that you provided about Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman drive home that point that each person who died was an individual.

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Very nice tribute.As someone who used to cover the Run for the Wall in Colorado City, Texas, our soldiers’ stories are moving testimonies to their courage and dedication. Wish more people felt the same way.

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. Mike said it best, that this day is about remembering the sacrifices of our troops. Thanks for the story of Technical Sergeant Chapman. He was a true hero, willing to give his life to save others. Salute!

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. Ironically, our beaches opened fully for Memorial Day weekend, but no services are to be held at the Navy Base cemetery or at our Veteran’s Memorial Park. Wonderful post, Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • I think those plans by your state are missing the point. Still, it’s much the same here. Parks and beaches are open – limited attendance controlled by available parking – but parades and large public memorials have been cancelled.

      Stay safe, Lois.

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  19. It’s nice to see that someone understands the reason we have this day set aside for remembrance. More than grilling some meat and drinking beer. A name and a history keeps it real for those who have forgotten the brutal nature of war and the moments that define a hero, one who didn’t intend to be but was doing what he felt was right. Thank you Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

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  21. Your story sent me looking for a list of those honored during the race. I found individual stories here and there. And it made me think of president Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. Drivers also honored medical workers during the race. Military names were on each windshield and medical workers names on drivers side windows. The details are scattered to local news reports. And scattered to history. It is good that those who gave their lives for our country are remembered and that their stories are told. Thanks Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

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  22. Hi Dan – interesting to read your post – as most of it I didn’t know … especially re NASCAR, and obviously John Chapman was unlikely to have entered my realm. Our day is in November … but via the blog I do remember your day, as too the Australians Anzac day … many of us will remember … many more should.

    Love the photos and captions … stay safe – all the best – Hilary

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thanks Hilary. We celebrate Veterans Day in November – for all who served. Memorial Day is supposed to recognize “those who dies during their military service” but lots of people get them confused over here. We also have Armed Services Day, to recognize those who are serving.

      But, you’re right, we should never forget these people.

      Like

      Reply

  26. A toast to Sgt. Chapman and all who made the ultimate sacrifice. May God rest their souls. Thanks for telling us about Chapman, Dan. Hope you guys had a nice holiday!

    Like

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