AO: COLOSSEUM
QiC: Bogey
Date: 05/22/2026
Title: CHAPMAN
Number of HIMs: 10
Bogey, Bullwinkle, Cricut, Frosted Flakes, Kindle, Mr. Miyagi, Paint by numbers, Patches, Pergo, Poodles
Number of FNGs: 0
Name of FNGs:
WarmOrama:
Mikey Phelps and disclaimer. Plank and 5 core principles in their proper order. Downward dog into cobra. Thru-the-tunnels. Morrocan night clubs. Chinooks and raise the roof. Lastly Don Coyotes.
Tha Thang:
Winkie ready. Playlist powered by Creed. And then explained the significance of MSgt John Chapman and his heroic actions during the battle of Takur Ghar.
Here’s the workout itself, which YHC modified a little (shorter run and no weight vest):
1,200 meter Run
100 Push-Ups
25 Broad-Jumps
100 Sit-Ups
1,200 meter Run
100 Push-Ups
25 Broad Jumps
100 Sit-Ups
1,200 meter Run
Wear a Weight Vest (20/14 lb)
COT:
Air Force Master Sergeant John Chapman was a Combat Controller who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic last stand in Afghanistan on March 4, 2002. During a harrowing rescue mission on Takur Ghar mountain, Chapman fought alone against dozens of insurgents for over an hour, ultimately saving the lives of his fellow comrades before making the ultimate sacrifice.
Early Life and Career: Born in 1965 and raised in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, John Allan Chapman joined the U.S. Air Force in 1985. He became a Combat Controller, an elite role that requires cross-training with the U.S. Navy SEALs, Green Berets, and other special operations units. He was specifically trained in reconnaissance, air traffic control, and directing close air support in hostile environments.
The Battle of Takur Ghar (March 2002): During Operation Enduring Freedom, Chapman was attached to a Navy SEAL team attempting to rescue a teammate, Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts, who had fallen out of an MH-47E helicopter onto a snowy Afghan mountaintop.
The Insertion: When Chapman’s team returned to the mountain to extract Roberts, their helicopter was ambushed, forcing them into a heavy firefight against an entrenched al-Qaeda stronghold.
Assaulting the Bunker: Immediately upon landing, Chapman charged uphill through thigh-deep snow, directly assaulting an enemy bunker and eliminating the combatants inside.
The Last Stand: He then engaged a second machine-gun bunker, exposing himself to heavy fire and sustaining critical wounds. Believing he was dead, the SEAL team was forced to break contact and retreat down the mountain. However, Chapman regained consciousness and continued a one-man stand against incoming insurgents. Despite severe blood loss, he continued to fight and direct fire, protecting an incoming Quick Reaction Force helicopter until he succumbed to his injuries after being shot 16 times.
Legacy and Medal of Honor: Chapman's actions allowed his trapped teammates and rescue forces to escape. In 2018, his Air Force Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor—making him the first airman to receive the nation's highest military decoration since the Vietnam War. His remarkable story and the subsequent investigation into the battle were extensively chronicled in the book Alone at Dawn. You can explore the full military citation on the National Medal of Honor Museum profile.
Thanks for the opportunity to lead this morning’s beatdown! Spend some quality time this weekend thinking about those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our way of life.
Pledge, pray, and on our way!