SFC. Nathan R. Chapman
 

http://www.detnews.com/2002/nation/0...a01-383450.htm

Parents praise son's Army life
Military veteran is first U.S. soldierkilled by enemy fire

By Natalie Gott / Associated Press
6 Jan 2002

GEORGETOWN, Texas - Sitting beside a framed photo of their son, Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Ross Chapman, the parents of the first U.S. soldier killed by enemy fire in Afghanistan fought back tears Saturday as they recalled his Army career.

Will and Lynn Chapman said the 31-year-old Green Beret communications specialist had served in Panama, Haiti, Operation Desert Storm and then Afghanistan. "The Army took to him and he took to the Army. It was a good match up until yesterday," Will Chapman said. "I think he was a better person for going into the Army and the Army was a better place."

On Friday, Chapman had been part of a U.S. team operating near the Afghan town of Khost, a few miles from the Pakistan border, military officials said. Officials said Chapman and a CIA officer had met local tribal leaders in Afghanistan's Paktia province, near where U.S. warplanes had struck several al-Qaida and Taliban targets in the past few weeks. After they left the meeting, the Americans were ambushed.

Chapman was killed by small-arms fire. The CIA officer was wounded but expected to survive. "We mourn for Sergeant Nathan Chapman and we pray with his family for God's blessings on them," President Bush said Saturday during a news conference in Ontario, Calif. "He lost his life for a cause that is just and important. And that cause is the security of the American people, and that cause is the cause of freedom and a civilized world."

At Fort Lewis, Wash., where Chapman had been based, former colleagues praised him for his commitment to the Army and his dynamic personality. "He was always the go-to person for people on other teams," said Capt. Edwin D. Hoenig, one of several colleagues who spoke Saturday at the base, about 30 miles south of Seattle. "He was a very charismatic person. People loved working with him and he loved working with soldiers."

Chapman was born on April 23, 1970, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. He joined the Army after his 1988 graduation from high school in Centerville, Ohio. "He did so well in his career. We were just amazed. He was my little boy," his mother said Saturday, wiping away tears during an interview in her Sun City home, about 25 miles north of Austin.

Lynn Chapman said her son was a loving husband and father. The couple said they planned to travel to Seattle today to be with Chapman's widow, Renae, and children, Amanda, 2, and Brandon, 1. Army officials said Chapman's wife would not be speaking to reporters Saturday.

Chapman served most of his military career at Fort Lewis. Since the war in Afghanistan began, he had been assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell, Ky., said Maj. Gary Kolb, a spokesman for Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, N.C.

His parents said he parachuted into Panama during the U.S. invasion of that country and served in Desert Storm and Haiti. He attended Special Forces school at Fort Bragg, they said. The Army's Special Forces have been advising, arming, training and coordinating with local Afghan forces since the military campaign began Oct. 7. Chapman dealt primarily with long-range communications and electronic equipment and had weapons' training.

"Nate Chapman was dynamic, outgoing and a physically hard soldier. He is known by his team for his great sense of humor," said Col. David P. Fridovich, his group commander.

Chapman's remains were to be flown to a base in Germany, where officials said they would arrange transportation back to Fort Lewis, likely by midweek. Funeral details were not finalized Saturday. Before Friday, the only U.S. military members killed inside Afghanistan were three Green Berets mistakenly hit last month by a U.S. airstrike north of Kandahar. In October, two Army Rangers were killed when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Pakistan. A CIA operative, Johnny "Mike" Spann, was killed Nov. 25 in an uprising of Taliban prisoners in Afghanistan.
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More:
http://www.quietpros.com/Afgan/chapm..._ross_5sfg.htm
http://www.groups.sfahq.com/1st/chap...id_to_rest.htm

RIP, SFC Chapman.

Sorry, Jen, I missed that one. Thanks.

TR

RIP Nate.


Thanks Jen.

RIP

DOL

He looks so young:

Blue skies:

Rest In Peace:

Terry

Chapman Hall
 

I received this photo this morning from a Brother who is over seas. This sign hangs at Camp Vance, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. It was good to see that my friend is not forgotten. I don't know how many of you had the honor to serve with Nate, but I will tell you that he was a good dude, a great friend, and one of the best warriors I ever had the privilege to serve with. Nate was in my squad in 2nd Ranger Battalion.

We were close during my stay there, but for some reason, we lost contact with each other after I had been out for a few years. I tracked down his parents, shortly after his death. They live a few hours from here. Unfortunately, they were not home when I dropped by, but I left a package of old squad photos and a lengthy letter on their doorstep. I received a very touching call from his dad when he found it. I hope to get back over there and meet them in person someday. Strange how a simple picture of a sign can bring the tears back so quickly. Rest Easy, Brother. You are not forgotten.

RLTW
EP

PS: Thanks to Team Sarnt for the photo assist!

RIP, Nate.

Good job, EP!

TR

RIP Nate. I'm glad they remembered him.

RIP.

I was just thinking of the video he sent home to his kids the other day. He's not forgotten.

RIP Nate.

Doc

RIP Nate.

SFA Chapter 3 is the Erawan/Nate Chapman Memorial Chapter.

Never forget.

Chapman Hall
 

RIP Nate.

A MAN IS NOT DEAD UNTIL HE IS FORGOTTEN!!!

BMT

Being out of the SF loop, I wasn't aware of all the memorials in his honor. I spent several hours yesterday going through some of the online ones. It's good to see that he is still part of the community. There are sure some good men gathered at the Big Rally Point. Thanks for all the comments.
RLTW
EP

Some of the history behind that building is that some pax from 3/1 were assigned to Camp Vance, BAF, AF. While there, they asked the CJSOTF-A Commander if they could name it after SFC Nathan R. Chapman. He approved, and for the next year or so it was occupied by 3/1 personnel.
There is also a camp located in Afghanistan named for him, in the province where he was killed.
If you are ever back out to Ft Lewis, stop by the 1st Group compound. They named the road in front of the HQ after him and make sure to stop by C/3-1's building...there is a small memorial dedicated to Nate there in the company hallway.

Also, back in May of 2004, the CJSOTF-A formally dedicated Camp Vance IHO SGT Gene A. Vance, 2/19 SFG(A), and conducted the final roll call for all SOF KIA in Afghanistan. None are forgotten.

requiescat in pace

V/R,