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CNN Live Today

Texas Town Honors First American Soldier to Die in Enduring Freedom

Aired May 27, 2002 - 14:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The conflict in Afghanistan has already claimed more than three dozen American lives, and today a small Texas town is honoring the first American soldier killed by enemy fire in Operation Enduring Freedom.

CNN's Ed Lavandera joins us from Georgetown, Texas, from a very touching ceremony that took place there today.

Hi, Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.

Well, the folks who attended this ceremony in Georgetown, Texas, which is about a half-hour drive north of Austin, want everyone to know that if you don't know the name Nathan Chapman, that this is a perfect day to remember just who he is.

The Army Green Beret was the first American killed by enemy fire in Afghanistan. He was killed on January 4th by al Qaeda fighters, and he was the first one to be killed in action.

And, of course, his family has gotten so much attention over the last four-and-a-half months.

Now, his parents were here today. They were the guests of honor at a dedication groundbreaking ceremony for a veteran's memorial that the community wants to put here in Georgetown.

The community here dedicating a tree to Nathan Chapman as well. The Chapman's wanted to thank all of their friends and neighbors who live here for all of the support they've gotten over the last four- and-a-half months. They've received more than 600 letters from not only people that they know, but from people who knew Nathan all over the world.

He was stationed in Okinawa. He had volunteered for service in Afghanistan. There was a unit that needed an extra man, and he volunteered for that service, and that's what brought him to that region.

And today the Chapman parents wanted to thank everyone. In particular, they also wanted to share a letter that Nathan Chapman had written to his parents 12 years ago, on his first combat mission, when he parachuted into Panama.

LYNN CHAPMAN, MOTHER OF NATHAN CHAPMAN: "People here are really friendly, because they have been living in fear for so long. They definitely want us here. They try to give us food and gifts, but we can't accept them. I wouldn't take them anyway. They're so poor. A lot of them have no shoes to wear and they all live in sheds not suitable to keep our lawnmower in.

I'm sure you know it's not like that all over the country, but where we are it's bad. I'm sure you're worried, but don't be. The worst is over."

LAVANDERA: Nathan Chapman wrote that letter to his parents 12 years ago, and for a while Mrs. Chapman thought she had lost the letter, and she spent an anxious two months before she found it earlier, just a few weeks ago. And she wanted to share that.

She wants people to take away from that the spirit of what she says that the men and women of the special forces are all about, that on the outside they might be seen as tough and war-torn, in a lot of cases, and have dealt with a lot of serious situations in their lives, but under all of that tough skin, she wants people to realize that the men and women of the special forces are sensitive people, and that the missions that they go on, they take a great pride in helping the people that they are surrounded by.

Nathan Chapman served in Panama, served in Haiti, in Desert Storm and, of course, in Afghanistan as well.

His parents here surrounded by many family and friends in what was a very emotional ceremony for them as well.

Carol, back to you.

LIN: Leave it to a mother, Ed, to bring out the softer side of her son.

Thanks so much. Ed Lavandera, reporting live from Georgetown, Texas.

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