{"id":24649,"date":"2018-08-24T03:42:47","date_gmt":"2018-08-24T03:42:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/24\/commentary-john-chapman-epitomized-the-air-commando-warrior-spirit\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:41:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:41:28","slug":"commentary-john-chapman-epitomized-the-air-commando-warrior-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/opinion\/commentary\/2018\/08\/24\/commentary-john-chapman-epitomized-the-air-commando-warrior-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary: John Chapman epitomized the Air Commando warrior spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You might not know John Chapman\u2019s name, but you should know his story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Battle of Takur Ghar in Afghanistan in March 2002 \u2014 a battle known as Roberts Ridge<\/a> \u2014 Tech. Sgt. Chapman unselfishly gave his life to engage an entrenched enemy targeting an approaching Quick Reaction Force helicopter. This, among other heroic acts that day<\/a>, saved many lives and rightly earned John the Medal of Honor, our nation\u2019s highest military distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the beginning moments of the mission, a rocket-propelled grenade ripped through the helicopter inserting John\u2019s team and subsequently ejected his teammate Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts into a hornet\u2019s nest of enemy activity below. The team crash-landed the aircraft nearby, reset, rearmed and returned to that ridge in a second aircraft. Even though they knew the location they were flying toward was an enemy stronghold, not attempting to rescue their brother was never an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\t