Nathan Chapman (soldier): Difference between revisions

Nathan Chapman
Nathan Chapman
Birth name	Nathan Ross Chapman
Born	April 23, 1970; Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, U.S.
Died	January 4, 2002 (aged 31); Gardez, Afghanistan †
Buried	Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Washington
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1988–2002
Rank	Sergeant First Class
Unit	1st Special Forces Group
Battles/wars	Operation Just Cause; Gulf War; Operation Uphold Democracy; War in Afghanistan;
Awards	Bronze Star; Purple Heart

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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 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]

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

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]

References

^ "iCasualties Iraq: Afghanistan Fatalities". icasualties.org. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ Murphy, Kim (January 11, 2002). "Fallen Green Beret Is Eulogized". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022.
^ ^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.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ 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.
^ "Nathan Ross Chapman, SFC". greenberetfoundation.com. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
^ 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.
^ "Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail". Pierce County, Washington. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
^ "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.

External links

Bio at SOC.mil Archived

[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.

[stripes-5] 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. 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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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{short description|United States Army soldier}}
+{{short description|United States Army soldier (1970–2002)}}
 {{Other uses|Nathan Chapman (disambiguation){{!}}Nathan Chapman}}
 {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 |unit=<!-- Missing image removed: [[File:1SFG flash.gif|25px]]  -->[[1st Special Forces Group]]
 |commands=
+|battles=
-|battles= [[United States invasion of Panama]]<br/>[[Gulf War]]<br/>[[Operation Uphold Democracy]]<br/>[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|war in Afghanistan]]
+{{tree list}}
+* [[United States invasion of Panama|Operation Just Cause]]
+* [[Gulf War]]
+* [[Operation Uphold Democracy]]
+* [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]
+{{tree list/end}}
 |awards=[[File:Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg|border|24px]] [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]]<br />
 [[File:Purple Heart ribbon.svg|border|24px]] [[Purple Heart]]
@@ Line 27: / Line 33: @@
 }}
-'''Nathan Ross Chapman''' (April 23, 1970{{spaced ndash}}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 (2001–present)|w
+'''Nathan Ross Chapman''' (April 23, 1970{{spaced ndash}}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 (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=iCasualties Iraq: Afghanistan Fatalities |url=http://icasualties.org/App/AfghanFatalities?cause-contains=hostile%20fire&sort=d-date&order=asc&country-name-contains=united%20states&rank-not-equals=cia&rows=10 |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=icasualties.org}}</ref>
-War in Afghanistan]].
 ==Early life and education==
@@ Line 35: / Line 40: @@
 ==Career==
 [[File:Chapmans Coffin.jpg|thumb|Chapman's coffin being carried by military pallbearers in January 2002]]
-Chapman's military career spanned 13 years<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2002 |title=Soldier's body to arrive in the U.S. Tuesday |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/US/01/07/ret.soldier.killed/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028161341/http://edition.cnn.com/2002/US/01/07/ret.soldier.killed/index.html |archive-date=18 October 2018 |access-date=August 11, 2019 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref> and included combat service in [[Haiti]], [[Panama]], and the Persian [[Gulf War]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Kim |date=11 January 2002 |title=Fallen Green Beret Is Eulogized |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-11-mn-21965-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805214248/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-11-mn-21965-story.html |archive-date=5 August 2022 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> In 1989, he parachuted into Panama as part of the [[Invasion of Panama|invasion]] during [[Operation Just Cause]]. He also served in [[Operation Desert Storm]] and later completed [[United States Army Special Forces selection and training|selection for the Army Special Forces]] at [[Fort Bragg]], North Carolina.
+Chapman's military career spanned 13 years<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2002 |title=Soldier's body to arrive in the U.S. Tuesday |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/US/01/07/ret.soldier.killed/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028161341/http://edition.cnn.com/2002/US/01/07/ret.soldier.killed/index.html |archive-date=28 October 2018 |access-date=August 11, 2019 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref> and included combat service in [[Haiti]], [[Panama]], and the Persian [[Gulf War]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Kim |date=11 January 2002 |title=Fallen Green Beret Is Eulogized |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-11-mn-21965-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805214248/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-11-mn-21965-story.html |archive-date=5 August 2022 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> In 1989, he parachuted into Panama as part of the [[Invasion of Panama|invasion]] during [[Operation Just Cause]]. He also served in [[Operation Desert Storm]] and later completed [[United States Army Special Forces selection and training|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 Center|Special Activities Division]] wounded.<ref name="stripes">{{Cite news |last=Bongioanni |first=Carlos |date=13 January 2002 |title=Okinawa service salutes Nate Chapman a former Torii Station Green Beret killed in Afghanistan |work=[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]] Pacific edition}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burns |first=John F. |date=9 February 2002 |title=A NATION CHALLENGED: A SOLDIER'S STORY; U.S. War Victim Rode Into Afghan Turf Fight |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/09/international/asia/09SOLD.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305180500/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/09/world/a-nation-challenged-a-soldier-s-story-us-war-victim-rode-into-afghan-turf-fight.html |archive-date=5 March 2022 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Although originally dubbed an "ambush", the military backed away from using the term.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 9, 2002 |title=U.S. backs away from term 'ambush' in soldier death |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/US/01/09/ret.pentagon.chapman/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028161336/http://edition.cnn.com/2002/US/01/09/ret.pentagon.chapman/index.html |archive-date=28 October 2018 |access-date=July 29, 2014 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref>
+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 Center|Special Activities Division]] wounded.<ref name="stripes">{{Cite news |last=Bongioanni |first=Carlos |date=13 January 2002 |title=Okinawa service salutes Nate Chapman a former Torii Station Green Beret killed in Afghanistan |work=[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]] Pacific edition}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burns |first=John F. |date=9 February 2002 |title=A Nation Challenged: A Soldier's Story; U.S. War Victim Rode Into Afghan Turf Fight |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/09/international/asia/09SOLD.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305180500/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/09/world/a-nation-challenged-a-soldier-s-story-us-war-victim-rode-into-afghan-turf-fight.html |archive-date=5 March 2022 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Although originally dubbed an "ambush", the military backed away from using the term.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 9, 2002 |title=U.S. backs away from term 'ambush' in soldier death |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/US/01/09/ret.pentagon.chapman/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028161336/http://edition.cnn.com/2002/US/01/09/ret.pentagon.chapman/index.html |archive-date=28 October 2018 |access-date=July 29, 2014 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref>
 He was posthumously awarded the [[Purple Heart]] and the [[Bronze Star]].<ref name="stripes" /> [[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 [[CIA Memorial Wall|memorial wall]] in his honor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gibbons-Neff |first=Thomas |date=April 17, 2016 |title=After 13 years, CIA honors Green Beret killed on secret Afghanistan mission |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/04/17/after-13-years-cia-honors-green-beret-killed-on-secret-afghanistan-mission/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417234025/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/04/17/after-13-years-cia-honors-green-beret-killed-on-secret-afghanistan-mission/ |archive-date=17 April 2006 |access-date=August 11, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>
+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 [[CIA Memorial Wall|memorial wall]] in his honor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gibbons-Neff |first=Thomas |date=April 17, 2016 |title=After 13 years, CIA honors Green Beret killed on secret Afghanistan mission |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/04/17/after-13-years-cia-honors-green-beret-killed-on-secret-afghanistan-mission/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417234025/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/04/17/after-13-years-cia-honors-green-beret-killed-on-secret-afghanistan-mission/ |archive-date=17 April 2016 |access-date=August 11, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>
 ==Awards and decorations==
@@ Line 152: / Line 157: @@
 There is a Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail in [[Pierce County, Washington]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nathan Chapman Memorial Trail |url=https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/1401/Nathan-Chapman-Memorial-Trail |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515043126/https://www.piercecountywa.gov/1401/Nathan-Chapman-Memorial-Trail |archive-date=15 May 2021 |access-date=April 28, 2019 |website=[[Pierce County, Washington]]}}</ref>
-On September 11, 2006, a casting commemorating Chapman was displayed "in Georgetown, Texas".<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2006 |title=Memorial Statue of First Soldier Killed during Operation Enduring Freedom Will be Unveiled in Georgetown, Texas, on 11 Sept. |url=https://www.chron.com/news/article/PRN-Memorial-Statue-of-First-Soldier-Killed-1884008.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616003026/https://www.chron.com/news/article/PRN-Memorial-Statue-of-First-Soldier-Killed-1884008.php |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |access-date=June 15, 2020 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]] |agency=[[PRNewswire]]}}</ref>
+On September 11, 2006, a casting commemorating Chapman was displayed "in Georgetown, Texas".<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2006 |title=Memorial Statue of First Soldier Killed during Operation Enduring Freedom Will be Unveiled in Georgetown, Texas, on 11 Sept. |url=https://www.chron.com/news/article/PRN-Memorial-Statue-of-First-Soldier-Killed-1884008.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616003026/https://www.chron.com/news/article/PRN-Memorial-Statue-of-First-Soldier-Killed-1884008.php |archive-date=June 16, 2020 |access-date=June 15, 2020 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]] |agency=[[PRNewswire]]}}</ref>
 ==See also==
-* [[Special Activities Division]]
 * [[Forward Operating Base Chapman attack]]
+* [[United States military casualties in the War in Afghanistan]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 175: / Line 180: @@
 [[Category:United States Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
 [[Category:Burials at Tahoma National Cemetery]]
+[[Category:People of the Central Intelligence Agency]]