Air Force Sergeant’s Wife Opens Up About Accepting His Posthumous Medal Of Honor | NBC Nightly News

After a joint special ops team’s helicopter came under fire resulting in a member being thrown from the chopper, Air Force sergeant John Chapman attacked two enemy bunkers, killing a pair of fighters before being cut down by enemy fire.
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Air Force Sergeant’s Wife Opens Up About Accepting His Posthumous Medal Of Honor | NBC Nightly News

[@xlostlovex]

Imagine getting hit unconscious, waking up again to realize you've been shot and then slowly regain control of your bodies and limbs. Looking out from the bunker he was in to make sense of what is the current situation, and bullets came flying in, rpg, missile, u saw your teammate is trying to make a landing... You have to make a decision... brave and fast.. God, I don't even know where he get all his strengths and reaction under such situation. Salute to John Chapman.

[@ranimalgaming2046]

Suffering a mortal wound*

[@dewaynemizzell7009]

Imagine being Chuck Norris’s idol.

[@themegaforce810]

He killed another that charged his bunker in hand to hand combat too. Check out Alone at Dawn.

[@tacticalsweater5119]

Real warrior and legend. When the chips are down, I think of Mr Chapman and all the brave men who willingly enter the belly of the beast. The motivation and willpower to push on is immense. Rest easy, men.😞

[@seanspartan2023]

John Chapman is the GOAT. The man kept fighting with blood loss, shock, and 16 bullet and shrapnel wounds. He charged a fortified bunker under fire at point blank range. He fought the enemy hand to hand. He deliberately exposed himself to draw attention away from the downed chopper and provided cover fire for his comrades with his last remaining breaths. They had to shoot him through the heart to stop him. He died saving the lives of 23 fellow soldiers. John Chapman is an absolute legend.

[@eXHackeR]

If his wonderful wife ever reads this: Just know so many of us Americans look at him as a true hero, a legend, a WARRIOR. I’m sure he was so important to you, and I’m so sorry you lost him because you can tell he was something special. Just know we appreciate his, and your families sacrifice for this wonderful nation. 2 Medal of Honors….. TRUE HERO.

[@kyleburton3992]

From a Marine, I salute you Sir and the family. God bless

[@harunyener5406]

SALUTING YOU SIR. # REAL LIFE RAMBO

[@Spyderz-xo9rz]

If you have not seen the drone footage I highly recomend it.

[@frknnutz]

He is a role model that many aspire to be now, and for all future warriors that his sacrifice, resiliency, and never quit attitude will instill in them. He has and will inspire many more to go above and beyond what one thinks impossible. We trained hard and we trained to win, trading the sweat of training for the blood that would have been lost on the battlefield, yet there will be blood no matter how hard you train.

[@outlawX357]

Now that ladies and gentleman is what we strive for here in America! Honor Duty Loyalty Courage Integrity Respect and Self Sacrifice

[@troywalker8078]

Unless you're a liberal...

[@outlawX357]

@@troywalker8078 aint that the truth

[@gracedicken8708]

@@troywalker8078 this isn’t really the time or place to push political agendas

[@finished6267]

Strive for? Nah it's what people cheer. No personal sacrifice, lots of armchair bs. My father didn't get any recognition or respect for his two tours, my grandfathers both gave their all in WW2 and made the ultimate sacrifice. America's military is no joke. Watching some of the Fallujah footage is serious business.

[@outlawX357]

@@finished6267 5 generations my family has served in the military from the civil war to Afghanistan. My brother lost 13 of his friends in his two tours in Afghanistan my father lost as many in Vietnam. My grandfather on my moms side served in the 82nd airborne fox company my dad's army air corps on the B-52 bombers going into Europe.

[@mbsanocki88]

This man is a absolute legend and hero for saving his men at the expense of his life. RIP Chapman..

[@totalrobot]

Courage that very few have ever displayed. Honor that will never fade. Thank you MSgt Chapman.

[@deneshbhaskar3944]

Ur a bottom surgeron ... U support everything John Chapman hated .

[@siliconiusantogramaphantis2122]

TSgt

[@lir5048]

God love this man. And God be with his wife and little girls.

[@bandicoot5412]

Through all the negative clutter, a being of such high nature comes through, a blessing, a role model, God Bless

[@MercadoRealtyPr1]

Can’t ever be Forgotten!!!! Salute Mr. Chapman. 🙏🏻

[@mikeggg1979]

Might be the bravest soldier in US Military history

[@Nick-AngelpeodSeaxisc]

There is a solid argument for that, after watching the video of the action there is no way a man can be classed as more courageous and brave than John Chapman, what he did borders on the superhuman.

[@Idol76]

Legends never die.🇺🇸

[@maluhiastevens1973]

This man’s name gonna live on for thousands of years

[@Idol76]

@@maluhiastevens1973 definitely.👍🏻

[@kyler.kinsey1188]

Ma’am, your husband is the most heroic of all heroes and warriors! My family in our home speak about Mr. Chapman at least once a day. We’ve even incorporated his name into our daily vocabulary (ex: “If that mailman leaves another one our packages in the drive way instead of our porch than the next time I see him; I’m gonna go full Chapman on him”)! I salute your family! God bless the Chapman’s!

[@OmegaRomik]

A real hero

[@43Magicman]

I Salute you! Air Force Sergeant John Chapman. Born in Springfield Ma. You Sir Make us Proud to be an American. North East Love Brother.🇺🇸🇵🇷

[@kevinm4209]

This doesnt do him justice. WATCH THE ACTUAL VIDEO. Happy memorial day John Chapman.

[@sammysam2615]

We throw the words honor and sacrifice around to easily. This man is the epitome of both

[@billbo1852]

A man who loved is friends and oppos could not dessert his comrades god bless

[@armandodelagarza8038]

This airmen got after it on the battlefield. He assessed and got after the most immediate threat. Fought like a lion. RIP dear warrior, I hold my military service cheap before you. 🙏💔😢

[@adrellwilliams4754]

Much respect to you sir for your valour and your unselfish courage. I salute you sir.

[@Shooter_Mcgavin93]

Seals tried to keep him from getting the Medal of Honor cuz they didn’t want to admit they left him behind, you think no one is watching that predator drones feed live? Get out of here they knew they left him they were scared and ran away within 15 feet of him. He is a true warrior the 1% his team let him down and he had to do all of their jobs

[@DarkMasterJo]

That’s what it looks like bro but you can’t tell from the ground level I wanna agree with you but there’s room for doubt if you heard the radio chatter from the ax-130 I agree the team leader and Chapman are the only one with balls the rest of the team were potatoes but that’s why they were air force Chapman was meant to be a marine

[@tylerwilson4287]

@@DarkMasterJo you don't know anything about anything.

[@jtaylorb88]

@@DarkMasterJo it was what the seals did after that supports that! The tried to veto Chapman's MOH saying it wasn't him who charged those bunkers and they awarded a MOH to the seal behind Chapman before he got his. They also fought against the release of the drone video that was the ultimate proof what happened and not the story they told. They did not want it to be known they left him behind.

[@ernestogastelum9123]

@@jtaylorb88 theres still a chance they didnt know they left him behind but since one of the mottos of the US army is "not to leave anybody behind". they still would feel ashamed of themselves that they left someone behind by accident.

[@rcole_21]

They say "he got shot in the heart," buddy he was all heart!

[@rocketdogticker]

John A Chapman Because Marines need heros too

[@rocketdogticker]

@M W I am the Marine. He is my hero. Most Americans who know what a Marine is usually don't think of us as having an airman as a hero. These men are Marines and spec ops 911. They are the best and most civilians don't know it.

[@zoey1811954]

@Roman Hashon I just lost it reading your comment. Tears are falling so hard. That was absolutely beautiful ! God bless you!

[@brandonbelchersr9496]

A true brave hero Chapman is. My condolences.

[@skywatcher651]

Brave, valiant, inspiring. Salute to this hero

[@hot1180]

Much Respect to the legend, Rip

[@yourunclesmailman420]

Never seen anything as brave as this man

[@FreshCutFrenchFries]

John A Chapman would posthumously receive the Medals of Honor for his courageous efforts and second is being considered for the first soilder that may receive two MoH. First for his swift action in charging the enemy under extreme fire, while wouded killed enemy fighters. Second, for the continous cover fire helping his brothers off the mountain knowing he was being left there.. I can imagine him kissing his kids goodbye. Reloading that last time and going out a true hero in every sense. Nothing but respect.

[@fazda8073]

Man deserved to live this is so sad. Rest In Peace hero.

[@stillsober19]

RIP Chappy. You’re my hero.

[@user-ci3zo7cj3r]

sergeant john chapman You are very special and great person. I respect your act of valor and your sacrifice. R.I.P

[@donaldmarusak6501]

This video is only 3 years old and only 141 comments. There should be 14 million! I am ashamed that only now I saw this video. THANK YOU SIR for giving up your life and your future so that myself and AMERICANS alike could have what you UNSELFISHLY DENIED YOURSELF! THANK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY...

[@jonny56254]

Legends never die

[@mgk0586]

This dude is the most badass man I've ever heard about. Modern day Audie Murphy

[@armandodelagarza8038]

He fought like a lion! May he rest in eternal peace.

[@NegiTaiMetal011]

A true, badass who is noble at heart whose thoughts of his comrades' life more than his and making a valiant last stand. Much salute to this guy. May Valhalla welcome him.

[@carlblair4780]

Brothers in arms. God bless MSgt Chapman.

[@justicewillprevail1106]

What a true American hero.

[@Dontlookification]

This video does not do this man justice. This guy went complete beast mode. As hard as they come.

[@JCVC1986454]

there is no greater form of love than laying down your life for another.

[@geogmz8277]

Crazy this happened in 2002.. And he's not recognized as a hero until 2018.. 🤦🏻‍♂️ God bless him and all other ladies and gentlemen out there giving all! To keep us safe..

[@Rubbafingaz1]

Really good point! I was wondering the same thing??

[@brianson2733]

Originally he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross/Air Force Cross for Extraordinary Heroism, but it was until 2018 it was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

[@KINGFLEX305]

It took them a long time to award this HERO!

[@warrenwong4518]

Rest easy, warrior.

[@Tactix_se]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

[@ralphbranham8663]

When I was in the U.S. Air Force I was a Security Police Airman and we always wanted to be sent in with the CCT's because we could at least provide a dedicated Fire Team for their security and I just noticed how that might have worked here . Rest in Peace MSgt. Chapman from Sgt Crash

[@jobertoli256]

Happy veterans Day and thank you for your sacrifice and duty sir and condolences to the family

[@EsotericOccultist]

Your husband was a hero.

[@shawnerickstad129]

God Bless this man

[@Kingjesus96]

Chapman your an an inspiration a role model, you are truly a hero, words cannot express your courage and actions that day on that terrible mission. WE have earned our right to this land against all challenges, for men do not live nor die in vain.. God bless you and may your children live a bless life knowing how their father gave himself to save his brothers.

[@hashmatullahahmadi3172]

R.I.P SGT Chapman

[@fuzzque3781]

Please make,this,a,film ... hero !

[@zoey1811954]

True Hero!

[@mattclancy7154]

Honored to say I was in the Chapman training complex during BMT, he was a true hero

[@gurpreetminhas9469]

Thank you for your service 🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🥀🥀❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@m.b305]

1 of the best soldiers ever.

[@johncho7149]

Rest Easy 💪🇺🇸

[@Benjamin-fu5ij]

The sacrifice that he made on that mountain will ring through the annals of history forever. If there was an award for valor above the medal of honor, he'd be worthy.

[@darknite-vu7sm]

SALUTE the brave WARRIOR JOHN CHAPMAN.

[@anthonyant1589]

Rest Easy Brother.

[@noblejustice19]

Real American. I'll be teaching my son about him and others.

[@FormerPBABowlerJoeJenkinsII]

God bless John Chapman and his family. 🙏🙏🙏

[@gigglybits200]

if you watch the full video of it, and hear the full story, it’s even more incredible. look it up if you haven’t seen it before everyone. “first medal of honor recorded”

[@iverson51492]

RIP John

[@patrickmcshane7658]

Eyes right, present arms.

[@marcreeves5980]

I'll never forgive the SEALs for trying to block his MOH.

[@jamiebrian4646]

My god!!! What a human!

[@drunkoutlaw5305]

I just wanna say "BALLS OF STEEL"

[@cagrangersealninja3720]

RIP battle

[@drogynturalyon9914]

"I never felt he was left behind , They did what they had to do" Not just the military but their families are cut from a different cloth

[@kevinm8865]

I call BS on that. He was left behind and the fact that she had to address it tells you the realizes that they literally left him behind. However she has to rationalize it in her mind to no be upset with those involved who ran, I suppose she has to. He WAS left behind and the video I saw did not show any significant effort to retrieve his body or check on him. This event is shameful and we should not just go along with this story being sold to us. Chapman is a true hero who, like many before him, was an unnecessary casualty, which resulted from negligent leadership. They left the man on the hill by himself.

[@ernestogastelum9123]

@@kevinm8865 you do realize the interview is edited so you dont know if the interveiwer asked that question or not. if his wife says she felt he wasnt left behind then leave at that since you will sound like a bitter person trying to look for something to complain. this doesnt affect you as much as it affects her

[@kevinm8865]

@@ernestogastelum9123 I speak truth. Go back and hide your head in the sand. Be ignorant at your own risk.

[@MegaTechboy1]

Rip American hero

[@krotensnabelbird4837]

he was left behind by his team this commander should be ashamed

[@idontknowman6277]

They had to make a decision and they didn’t know if he was dead. In combat there are so many hard decisions to make.

[@leralu198525]

His Team Leader has said in past interviews that leaving Chapman behind, Haunts him.

[@Grandcathedral]

You know they think about that almost everyday it probably haunts them

[@craigowenlindvalljr8300]

I know the news doesn't have a lot of time to present. But they shouldn't do it at all unless he gets the best representation. They make it seem so plain. Now he was mortally injured in the process of bleeding to death! Instead of turning around and retreating for medical assistance he stood on that mountain and fought until he died! Over an hour of bleeding to death and getting shot he never once considered running to get get help! I can't even fathom being in that situation. In the process of losing everything that you love in life. Everything you love you are never going to see again. Despite all this he fought till the end. I'm having a hard time putting this to words. The only way to do it is you have to sit alone and daydream about being in that situation instead of him. Imagine knowing you're about to lose everything. I can't even fathom it.

[@greghiguera8752]

This is not one of those stories you can chop up and edit. The entire story needs to be heard and it's a lot more than 3 minutes 😢❤

[@fastone942]

The part that hit me that his wife understand how it happened and what other did what they had to I was thinking the video made it worse instead help her understand how her brave husband died saving other men to the very end and why they could not find him

[@prometheus_common7728]

There were very few people in our armed forces that knew of Air Force Special Op services, TACP, Forward Air Controller's, and me; Pararescue. I was embedded with the 110th mountain division before i got out, but I also worked with Marines. There were a lot of them that were surprised and had no idea we existed. When I was in, there were no officer's commanding Pararescue, but we only reported to a commandant, senior enlisted. We were and are the only advanced combat medical team in all of DOD and were every branch of services 911!

[@mmaaphilliates]

They Need to make a Big Budget movie about him like "The Outpost" about Taylor and Romishaw

[@Gshock714]

And yet you people keep making fun that we are the Chair Force..TSGT Chapman was more of a Warrior than any other of the Special operators out there,heck even the Marine who analyzes war stores and actual combat footage videos said that he couldn't do what Chapman did.

[@zoey1811954]

Very few can or would do what he did! He’s a Warrior!!! Because of him, many of his fellow Soldiers made it home! God bless him, his family and fellow Soldiers! Thank you John A. Chapman for you’re Service! God speed, and may you RIP. 🙏

[@bgt2848]

Read alone at dawn if you want to truly know who this man was. This dosnt do him justice. Also Chapman WAS dead initially. That just wasn’t enough to stop him.

[@ranimalgaming2046]

NBC doesn’t deserve to tell this story

[@rneustel388]

Where is that memorial statue located?

[@user-oj9iu2yr1w]

Show the full content or don’t show nothing

[@doomfathertm8771]

Remember when in saving private Ryan, the captain tells private Ryan to earn it "earn this" well, if we can all be better people, everyday be the best person you can, be a good kind person to others, then it makes Chapmans sacrifice even more worth it

[@aoandd]

L.H. is a good narrator.

[@jesusgarcia10106512]

I promise you this if u play the video game Medal of Honor aka team WOLF PACK is about them the story is exactly the same , it will tell u what had happened exactly

[@mmaaphilliates]

That Game is based on This Operation

[@JT-xi7el]

Henry Cavill would be an awesome actor on the big screen showcasing Johns heroism.

[@Moderndaywayne]

I think jake gyllenhaal is playing him

[@johnmagill9496]

On the positive side, there you have two kids, each guaranteed a slot in the Air Force academy.

[@starlight7830]

He died for nothing !!!

[@xiandalit8378]

This man is braver than the japanese army

[@fernandomiller2294]

Pararescue. Air force PJs "so others may live" Rest In Peace sir🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@Moderndaywayne]

He was a combat controller not a pj

[@lulzimazn]

The navy seals abandoned him. The seals leave no man behind except if they aren't sailors.

[@UNSC-Saratoga]

The SEALs tried to block Chapman from getting the Medal of Honor. They wanted to protect their image so they tried to throw him under the bus.

[@rodney7780]

Wow... Whats the point of this video you left SO much out... Just watch the actual video.

[@therienacevedo841]

Running for news

[@papasteve215]

This is the best NBC could come up with? Shameful

[@TheMustardSeedChurch]

What's sad is I feel we are losing that type of hero in this current generation. I wonder who would answer the call if our country were ever attacked as it was on 9-11-2001?

[@cameronking3341]

He is a true American unlike some that blabber off saying they are the right ones like they are owed everything Chapman is what it means to really be a American if said group doesn't have this mindset then they are not patriotic and not Americans as they say to be

[@rzrbladekiss999]

Story was half told.

[@genos_vacuum]

All politics aside…these men fought for what they believed in.

[@bigdefense777]

Someone, somewhere, is blaming his death on trump

[@Julia-Julia]

Great, Chapman was there first to save the man thrown from the helicopter... Yet, his team just walked by him, while he was still alive and just left him there to die! That’s terrible! They are guilty in his death!