Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

Family Members and Comrades Mourn Nathan Chapman's Death

Aired January 05, 2002 - 16:10   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Family members and friends and comrades are mourning the death of the first U.S. soldier killed by hostile fire in Afghanistan -- 1st Sergeant Nathan Ross Chapman. He was a member of U.S. Special Forces, and only 31 years old when he died. CNN's Rusty Dornin has more for us from Fort Lewis, Washington, where Chapman was based -- Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Catherine, Fort Lewis was really the place that Sergeant 1st Class Nate Chapman called home for most of his 13-year Army career. He came here right after basic training in 1988, and would return here on and off to train with his Special Forces group during his career. But more importantly, he called this home because this is where he lived with his wife and two children. He had a daughter, 2, and a son aged 1.

Special Forces groups are very tightly knit. His comrades say that he was a professional solder, and that when he was in Afghanistan, he was doing exactly what he joined Special Forces to do. But there is no question that he will be sorely missed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. DAVID P. FRIDOVICH, GROUP COMMANDER: Nate Chapman was a dynamic, outgoing, physically and mentally hard soldier, known by his team to have an absolutely fun, great sense of humor. He embodied not just the warrior ethic, but served as a stellar example of Special Forces ethos.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: Now, Sergeant Nate Chapman was -- grew up in San Antonio, Texas. His parents now live in Georgetown. His parents spoke to reporters earlier today, and his father spoke of a conversation he had with his son just before Christmas.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILBUR CHAPMAN, SOLDIER'S FATHER: I said to him that I was sorry that he couldn't be with his family for Christmas, and he said: "I know, dad," but he says, "I'm with my second family, and they are a great bunch of guys."

LYNN CHAPMAN, SOLDIER'S MOTHER: It was pretty shocking. I just -- he had been through so many things, so many actions, and I guess I came to think that he -- nothing would happen to him. But I was wrong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: CNN's Frank Buckley also spoke with the Chapmans. We will be bringing you that interview later today.

Meantime, the body will be flown back here to Fort Lewis. There is an escort that is brining the body back. Base personnel, of course, is providing support for the family here. The body is expected to arrive some time in the middle of the week, and a memorial later this week -- Catherine..

CALLAWAY: Feel so much for the Chapman family. Thank you, CNN's Rusty Dornin.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com