Military

First Lady Joins President Trump In Celebrating First Airman Since Vietnam To Earn Medal Of Honor

Virginia Kruta Associate Editor
Font Size:

First lady Melania Trump joined President Donald Trump on Wednesday in celebrating the life and tremendous sacrifice of Air Force Tech Sergeant John Chapman, the first airman to be awarded the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.

Chapman, who received the medal posthumously, was killed in Afghanistan in 2002 — and recently released video shows that in the last 14 hours of his life, the 36-year-old airman saved the lives of as many as 20 other service members. Joining with Navy SEALs to aid in a rescue mission, Chapman “charged into enemy fire through harrowing conditions” and was instrumental in destroying an enemy bunker.

President Trump presented the Medal of Honor on Wednesday to Chapman’s family.

WATCH:

Follow Virginia on Twitter.