Nathan Chapman (soldier)

Nathan Chapman
Birth nameNathan Ross Chapman
Born(1970-04-23)April 23, 1970
Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, U.S.
DiedJanuary 4, 2002(2002-01-04) (aged 31)
Gardez, Afghanistan †
Buried
Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Washington
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1988–2002
Rank Sergeant First Class
Unit1st Special Forces Group
Battles / wars
Awards Bronze Star
Purple Heart

Nathan Ross Chapman (April 23, 1970 – January 4, 2002) was a United States Army Sergeant First Class with the 1st Special Forces Group. He was the first American soldier to be killed by enemy action in the War in Afghanistan.[1]

Early life and education

The son of Wilbur and Lynn Chapman, Chapman was born at Andrews Air Force Base, where his father was stationed at the time. Chapman grew up in a variety of towns across the United States, and graduated from Centerville High School, near Dayton, Ohio. He listed his hometown as San Antonio, Texas when he joined the military at the age of 18. He had never lived in San Antonio, but that is where his grandparents lived.[2]

Career

Chapman's coffin being carried by military pallbearers in January 2002

Chapman's military career spanned 13 years[3] and included combat service in Haiti, Panama, and the Persian Gulf War.[4] In 1989, he parachuted into Panama as part of the invasion during Operation Just Cause. He also served in Operation Desert Storm and later completed selection for the Army Special Forces at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Assigned to the 1st Special Forces Group following the 11 September attacks, Chapman was directing troop movements from the back of a flatbed truck when he was shot. He did not die instantly from the attack, which also saw a CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer from Special Activities Division wounded.[5][6] Although originally dubbed an "ambush", the military backed away from using the term.[7]

He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.[5] Forward Operating Base Chapman was named after SFC Chapman.

On May 18, 2015, the CIA acknowledged Chapman had been detailed to a six-man CIA unit known as "Team Hotel" and unveiled a star on their memorial wall in his honor.[8]

Awards and decorations

SFC Chapman was awarded the following during his military career:[9]

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
Bronze star
Badge Combat Infantryman Badge
with star (denoting second award)
1st row Bronze Star
with "V" device
2nd row Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal
with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards)
3rd row Army Achievement Medal
with 3 Oak leaf clusters (4 awards) 		Army Good Conduct Medal
with 3 Good conduct loops 		National Defense Service Medal
with 1 Service star
4th row Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
with Arrowhead device 		Southwest Asia Service Medal
with 1 Campaign star 		Afghanistan Campaign Medal
5th row Armed Forces Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
with Award numeral 3
6th row Army Service Ribbon Army Overseas Ribbon United Nations Medal
7th row NATO Medal
for ex-Yugoslavia 		Kuwait Liberation Medal
(Saudi Arabia) 		Kuwait Liberation Medal
(Kuwait)
Badges Master Parachutist Badge
with 1 bronze combat jump star 		Special Operations Diver Badge Expert Marksmanship badge
with rifle component bar
Tabs Special Forces Tab Ranger Tab
Other accoutrements
Expert Infantryman Badge
1st Special Forces Command (Airborne)
Combat Service Identification Badge
United States Army Special Forces
Distinctive unit insignia
Royal Thai Parachutist Badge

Personal life

Plaque adorning the memorial trail

Chapman, his wife Renae and two children[10] lived in Puyallup, Washington. He was buried at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.[citation needed]

There is a Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail in Pierce County, Washington.[11]

On September 11, 2006, a casting commemorating Chapman was displayed "in Georgetown, Texas".[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "iCasualties Iraq: Afghanistan Fatalities". icasualties.org. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  2. ^ Caldwell, Leigh Ann (July 10, 2012). "Widow of first servicemember to die in Afghanistan War still struggling with loss, VA". CBS News. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Soldier's body to arrive in the U.S. Tuesday". CNN. January 7, 2002. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  4. ^ Murphy, Kim (January 11, 2002). "Fallen Green Beret Is Eulogized". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Bongioanni, Carlos (January 13, 2002). "Okinawa service salutes Nate Chapman a former Torii Station Green Beret killed in Afghanistan". Stars and Stripes Pacific edition.
  6. ^ Burns, John F. (February 9, 2002). "A Nation Challenged: A Soldier's Story; U.S. War Victim Rode Into Afghan Turf Fight". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "U.S. backs away from term 'ambush' in soldier death". CNN. January 9, 2002. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. ^ Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (April 17, 2016). "After 13 years, CIA honors Green Beret killed on secret Afghanistan mission". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  9. ^ "Nathan Ross Chapman, SFC". greenberetfoundation.com. January 4, 2002. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  10. ^ Daly, Michael (January 4, 2010). "First American to die in Afghanistan, Nathan Chapman, remembered eight years later". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  11. ^ "Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail". Pierce County, Washington. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  12. ^ "Memorial Statue of First Soldier Killed during Operation Enduring Freedom Will be Unveiled in Georgetown, Texas, on 11 Sept". Houston Chronicle. PRNewswire. September 7, 2006. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
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