The Air Force awards the Air Force Cross posthumously to TSgt. John Chapman. During Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, TSgt John Chapman, a combat controller, charged a frontal gun emplacement, killing several of the enemy, in an effort to rescue a fallen comrade. Ultimately, his actions on March 4, 2002, saved the lives of his entire special operations team.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
