Sermon Tone Analysis

Chapman is the FIRST Airman to receive the Medal of Honor for actions conducted since the Vietnam War.This marks the FIRST Medal of Honor to be awarded to a Special Tactics Airman.Originally posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions in 2003.There have been 60 Medals of Honor presented to U.S. Air Force members from World War I, World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam War.This is the 7th Medal of Honor to be awarded to an enlisted Airman since the inception of the U.S. Air Force.

The Battle of Takur Ghar

In conjunction with Operation Anaconda in March 2002, small reconnaissance teams were tasked to establish observation posts in strategic locations in Afghanistan, and when able, direct U.S. air power to destroy enemy targets.

The mountain of Takur Ghar was an ideal spot for such an observation post, with excellent visibility to key locations.

For Sergeant Chapman and his joint special operations teammates, the mission on the night of March 3 was to establish a reconnaissance position on Takur Ghar and report al Qaeda movement in the Sahi-Kowt area.

“This was very high profile, no-fail job, and we picked John,” said retired Air Force Col. Ken Rodriguez, Sergeant Chapman’s commander at the time.

“In a very high-caliber career field, with the highest quality of men – even then – John stood out as our guy.”

During the initial insertion onto Afghanistan’s Takur Ghar mountaintop on March 4, the MH-47 “Chinook” helicopter carrying Sergeant Chapman and the joint special operations reconnaissance team was ambushed.

A rocket propelled grenade struck the helicopter and bullets ripped through the fuselage.

The blast ripped through the left side of the Chinook, throwing Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts off the ramp of the helicopter onto the enemy-infested mountaintop below.

The severely damaged aircraft was unable to return for Petty Officer Roberts, and performed a controlled crash landing a few miles from the mountaintop.

Thus began the chain of events that led to unparalleled acts of valor by numerous joint special operations forces, the deaths of seven U.S. servicemen and now, 16 years later, posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Chapman.

Alone, against the elements and separated from his team with enemy personnel closing in, Petty Officer Roberts was in desperate need of support.

The remaining joint special operations team members, fully aware of his precarious situation, immediately began planning a daring rescue attempt that included returning to the top of Takur Ghar where they had just taken heavy enemy fire.

As the team returned to Petty Officer Roberts’ last-known position, now on a second MH-47, the entrenched enemy forces immediately engaged the approaching helicopter with heavy fire.

Miraculously, the helicopter, although heavily damaged, was able to successfully offload the remaining special operations team members and return to base.

Sergeant Chapman, upon exiting the helicopter, immediately charged uphill through the snow toward enemy positions while under heavy fire from three directions.

Once on the ground, the team assessed the situation and moved quickly to the high ground.

The most prominent cover and concealment on the hilltop were a large rock and tree.

As they approached the tree, Sergeant Chapman received fire from two enemy personnel in a fortified position.

He returned fire, charged the enemy position and took out the enemy combatants within.

Almost immediately, the team began taking machine gun fire from another fortified enemy position only 12 meters away.

Sergeant Chapman deliberately moved into the open to engage the new enemy position.

As he heroically engaged the enemy, he was struck by a burst of gunfire and became critically injured.

Sergeant Chapman regained his faculties and continued to fight relentlessly despite his severe wounds.

He sustained a violent engagement with multiple enemy fighters, for over an hour through the arrival of the quick reaction force, before paying the ultimate sacrifice.

In performance of these remarkably heroic actions, Sergeant Chapman is credited with saving the lives of his teammates.

Tech.

Sgt Chapman laid down his life for his country and his fellow soldiers.

Likewise, we are called to lay down our lives for our heavenly country.

Three common character traits that we see of heroes.

I.

They are willing to go where they are not welcome.

II.

They are willing to give whatever it takes.

III.

They are unshakeable in their constitution.