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Posted at the request of AnotherPat.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Tech Sgt. John Chapman at a ceremony at the White House Wednesday, marking the first time a U.S. airman has received the military’s highest award for valor for operations in America’s longest war.<\/p>\n
It’s also the first time an airman has received the award in nearly 50 years.<\/p>\n
“We’re gathered together this afternoon to pay tribute to a fallen warrior, a great warrior, Technical Sergeant John Chapman, and to award him the nation’s highest and most revered military honor,” Trump said during the ceremony. “Now, John will become the first special tactics airman to receive the congressional Medal of Honor.”<\/p>\n
The president presented the award to Valerie Nessel, Chapman’s widow, in front of their two daughters Madison and Brianna, Chapman’s mother Terry and sister Lori. In the audience was Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen David Goldfein, as well as other service leaders and members of Congress. Former Air Force secretary Deborah Lee James, who aided in pushing Chapman’s medal elevation through, was also among airmen.<\/p>\n
Special tactics airmen lined the seats of the East Room for their fellow fallen airman. The official Air Force band played “I’ll Be There” as guests arrived before the ceremony.<\/p>\n
Sitting among five past Medal of Honor recipients was Britt K. Slabinski, who led the SEAL Team 6 unit up Takur Ghar mountain during the mission on March 4, 2002.<\/p>\n
Slabinski, now a retired master chief special warfare operator, was awarded the Medal of Honor in May for his own heroism during the costly battle.<\/p>\n
Chapman “was a very brave man, right from the beginning.” Trump said. “Today it is our great honor to share his incredible story with the world.”<\/p>\n
Trump summarized the account of how Chapman had led a charge up Takur Ghar to find Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts, a SEAL who was flung out of his helicopter when it crash-landed on the mountain. He fell wounded in his first assault on the enemy, but would regain consciousness and fight on. Air Force officials would determine he fought for more than an hour after his team had presumed him dead.<\/p>\n
“Even though he was mortally wounded John regained consciousness and continued to fight on, and he really fought on. We have proof of that fight. He really fought. Good genes,” Trump said. “Through his extraordinary sacrifice, John helped save more than 20 American service members, some of whom are here today.”<\/p>\n
Army Sergeant Major Raymond DePouli and special tactics Air Force Maj. Gabriel Brown were also acknowledged in the audience.<\/p>\n
“I know that if John were here, he would attest that all the men on the mountaintop that day were heroes,” Nessel said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Nessel and Terry Chapman spoke to reporters outside Washington, D.C., a day ahead of her late husband’s ceremony at the White House. They were accompanied by Chapman’s former squadron commander, retired Col. Kenneth Rodriguez.<\/p>\n
“It’s team before self,” Nessel said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Read the article in it’s entirety here:<\/p>\n
Military Daily Link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"