First Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

Tenth Anniversary Remembered

It is sometimes difficult to grasp how quickly time passes and in some cases how soon people forget, and yet his family, friends and Brothers in Arms from the US Army 1st Special Forces Group have not forgotten and still remember SFC Nate Chapman on this tenth anniversary of his death on January 4, 2002. 

"SFC Nate Chapman has the single unwanted distinction of being the first American Soldier killed by enemy action in Afghanistan."

SFC Nate Chapman has the single unwanted distinction of being the first American Soldier killed by enemy action in Afghanistan.  SFC Chapman, a Green Beret and member of ODA-194 in the 3^rd Battalion 1^st Special Forces Group out of Fort Lewis Washington was serving on his third combat tour, his two previous combat tours having been in Panama and Desert Storm.

On January 4, 2002, Nate Chapman was part of a U.S. team operating near the town of Khost, a few miles from the Pakistan border. The Green Berets, in some cases working with CIA officers, had been combing the region on intelligence missions with Afghan fighters. They searched caves, bunkers, gathered weapons and interrogated captured Taliban and al-Qaida fighters.
Chapman and a CIA officer were working with local Afghan leaders to gain information on the whereabouts of al-Qaida members. After leaving a meeting with the Afghans, the Americans were ambushed by small-arms and light-machine-gun fire. Both Chapman and the CIA Officer were shot during the firefight and evacuated, however Chapman died shortly after from his wounds.   

Nate Chapman was laid to rest at Mount Tahoma Cemetery in Kent Washington. The below link has additional information about Nate Chapman.

http://www.quietpros.com/Afgan/chapman_nathan_ross_5sfg.htm