Honoring a hero.

Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force chief of staff

Remarks at the presentation of the Air Force Cross to the family of Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, Pope Air Force Base, N. C., Jan. 10, 2003

Ladies and gentlemen, comrades in arms. We join today to pay tribute to the very best among us, Tech. Sgt. John Chapman. But no tributes we offer will be good enough to honor this hero. The words that accompany the citation we will hear today speak of patriotism, supreme dedication and ultimate selflessness. Those virtues come most naturally to those very few we call combat controllers.

John Chapman's heroism was not about combat control; it was about his dedication to the mission he was given and to the devotion to those on that mission with him. John saved the lives of his teammates and there can be no greater tribute to any soldier, sailor, airman or Marine, or to any human being.

To Valerie and the Chapman family, to Gene (Eugene Chapman), and to Terry (Teresa Giaccone), I can only offer the most powerful words ever written to a bereaved family and they were written by Abraham Lincoln. He wrote, "I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a lost so overwhelming, but I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save."

Also on occasions like this it's useful to remember the lives of those that John saved. I have a quote here written by a Confederate soldier, as he lay badly wounded following the Civil War. In reflecting upon his condition, he wrote the following prayer.

"I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for good health that I might do great things. I was given infirmity so that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men, the most richly blessed."

Today we know that John is here with us. The generations of men and women who have sacrificed their lives to build and sustain this nation fill the blank spaces of this hall today. They look upon us. They judge us. Are we worthy? Are we worthy to carry on in the examples that they set for us? John Chapman was worthy.

We respect his memory. His example will always be with us. God bless him. God bless all of you. And God bless the United States of America. Thank you.