The wife of John Chapman, the U.S. airman who engaged in a battle with al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan and received a Medal of Honor from President Donald Trump, has spoken out.
“I’m as proud as can be,” Valerie Nessel told People
magazine. “It’s very humbling that he is finally being recognized for what he did.”
In March 2002, Chapman, who was an Air Force Technical Sergeant, tried to rescue a fellow soldier who was thrown from a helicopter after it was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade.
“In this final act of supreme courage, John gave his life for his fellow warriors,” President Trump said on Aug. 22 during the ceremony, according to
Military.com. “Through his extraordinary sacrifice, John helped save more than 20 American service members.”
“Sergeant Chapman charged into enemy fire through harrowing conditions, seized an enemy bunker, and killed its enemy occupants,” the White House said in a statement about his mission, according to People. “He then moved from cover to engage a machine gun firing on his team from a second bunker.”
“During the rescue attempt, Chapman and his teammates once again received heavy enemy fire from multiple directions. Chapman, despite the enemy fire, charged uphill through thigh-deep snow to directly assault an enemy position. He took the enemy bunker, cleared the position, and killed the enemy fighters occupying the position,” the
U.S. Air Force said in a release on July 27, saying that he will be awarded the Medal of Honor. A video of the fight was published on Aug. 9.
Chapman was
wounded in a battle and left for dead on Takur Ghar mountain. However, surveillance footage taken of the fight showed Chapman engaging in combat after he regained consciousness.
“With complete disregard for his own life, Chapman deliberately moved from the bunker’s protective cover to attack a second hostile bunker with an emplaced machine gun firing on the rescue team,” the Air Force said of the
video. “During this bold attack, he was struck and temporarily incapacitated by enemy fire.”
The Air Force said that after his death, it was determined that he likely
engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. The military also said that he likely saved the life of his fellow soldiers.
“John was an extraordinary man,” Nessel told People. “They are a special breed of quiet professionals cut from a completely different cloth,” she added. “Walking down the street you would never know what they are trained to do. They are very humble and quiet and all about serving their country and their team.”
“He really fought.” Trump said during the Aug. 22 Medal of Honor ceremony. “He gave his life for his fellow warriors,”
Fox News reported.
Nessel said she’s happy to receive the medal.
“I wish he would be here to receive it in person,” she said.
“Let people know, our men and women are still at war,” she told People. “Hopefully people won’t forget all the Gold Star families, anyone who has lost someone killed in action or in a training accident, or suicide from PTSD if the treatment is not available to them.”
