Alone at Dawn, the true account of Medal of Honor Recipient John Chapman, who died alone fighting Al Qaeda forces, will be available for purchase June 25.
The book details Chapman’s heroic sacrifice and how during a 2002 battle he saved fellow SEAL team mates and a rescue squad. According to author Dan Schilling, who co-wrote it with Chapman’s sister Lori Chapman Longfritz, it also offers insight on USAF Combat Controllers.
“Outnumbered by Al Qaeda fighters, Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman and a handful of SEALs struggled to take the summit in a desperate bid to find a lost teammate. Chapman, leading the charge, was gravely wounded in the initial assault. Believing he was dead, his SEAL leader ordered a retreat. Chapman regained consciousness, finding himself alone with the enemy who was closing in on three sides. Thus began the most difficult and exceptional fight of his life,” stated Schilling.
Schilling noted that Chapman realized he was mortally wounded and single-handedly engaged two dozen enemy fighters, saving the lives of an incoming rescue squad.
Chapman was the first airman in nearly 50 years to receive the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, which was awarded posthumously to his widow, Navarre resident Valerie Nessel, by U.S. President Donald J. Trump on August 22, 2018.
Additionally, this spring a life-sized statue in his honor was unveiled at Pope Army Airfield.
(Air Force Special Operations Command photo)
Schilling for more than three decades served as a Combat Controller and Special Tactics Officer.
He also holds the Guinness World Record for most BASE jumps in a 24-hour period, which he did as a fundraiser for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation to benefit children who lost a parent in special operations.
Schilling will appear on Fox & Friends on the morning of June 26 to promote the book. He will be at the Hurlburt Field base exchange at 11 a.m., Friday, June 28 to sign copies. He will also be at the Barnes & Noble, located at 1200 Airport Boulevard in Pensacola at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 29 to sign copies.
