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CNN Saturday Morning News

Military Mourns Loss of Chapman

Aired January 05, 2002 - 11:10   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The Army is mourning one of their own today. Green Beret Sergeant Nathan Chapman has become the first U.S. soldier killed by enemy fire in Afghanistan.

CNN's Lillian Kim joins us now from Fort Lewis, Washington, where Chapman was stationed. Hello again, Lilian.

LILIAN KIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, a proud father, a loving husband and a devoted soldier, that's how family members describe Sergeant First Class Nathan Ross Chapman.

For most of his military career, the Green Beret Operations Communications Specialist was based here at Fort Lewis, Washington. He is the first American soldier killed by enemy fire since the war in Afghanistan began. His body is currently at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. As a 13-year veteran, Chapman served in Panama, Haiti, and Operation Desert Storm.

The 31-year-old leaves behind a wife, a two-year-old daughter, and a one-year-old son. For the people here at Fort Lewis, the news of Chapman's death brought the war close to home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER: Sometimes we have to second-guess ourselves, as in did we actually back him up or could we have done something else to prevent him from dying, things like that. So yes, morale does go down and makes everybody feel bad.

UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER: We hope it doesn't happen to ourselves or to people we know or to anybody wearing the uniform, but there's always that possibility and that's just something that has to be accepted.

UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER: Yes, it is a loss. Yes, it is hard to deal with. But when it comes down to it, it's a sacrifice we made when we stood up to join.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

KIM: In a couple of hours, we expect to get more details on Chapman from his commander here at Fort Lewis. Reporting from Washington State, I'm Lilian Kim. Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: Lilian, thanks so much. Martin.

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