March 04, 2002

During Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, TSgt John Chapman, an Air Force Special Operations Command combat controller, charged a frontal gun emplacement, killing several of the enemy, in an effort to rescue a fallen comrade. His actions save the lives of his entire team. Chapman will receive the Air Force Cross posthumously. (See Jan. 10, 2003.) (Also see Sept. 13, 2002, noting award of posthumous Air Force Cross to SrA. Jason D. Cunningham, a pararescue jumper (PJ), for his actions during Anaconda.)