Posted on 10/04/2025 10:48:30 AM PDT by DFG
The story of John Chapman is officially coming to the big screen.
Chapman is one of the biggest legends in the history of the United States military. The Air Force 24th STS (a Tier One unit) CCT was killed during the Battle of Takur Ghar in March 2002.
All hell broke loose on a mountain during Operation Anaconda, and the SEAL Team 6 team Chapman was attached to retreated under heavy enemy fire.
Chapman was left alone without backup or help. He fought to the brutal and bloody end, engaging enemy fighters before eventually dying from his wounds. The elite CCT's actions didn't just save the lives of the ST6 element, but also of the QRF.
You can watch his heroic actions in the video below. The footage will make you damn proud to be an American.
Adam Driver to play John Chapman in "Alone at Dawn."
Chapman's story was brought into the mainstream by fellow CCT and author Dan Schilling with the incredibly popular book "Alone at Dawn."
Now, the book is becoming a major Hollywood film. Adam Driver, a former Marine, will star as the Air Force legend and Anne Hathaway will star as an intelligence officer who pushed to make sure Chapman received the MoH he paid for with his life, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Ron Howard is set to direct.
I interviewed Dan Schilling a few years back about the truth of the Battle of Takur Ghar, Chapman and what unfolded on the mountain back in 2002.
It's well worth your time if you're interested in history and honoring a true American hero.
There was a fairly significant scandal surrounding the Navy allegedly attempting to block Chapman's MoH, due to not wanting to admit the SEALs left him alone.
I'm not here to talk about that today. That debate can be had another day. What I know beyond a shadow of a doubt is that John Chapman is an American hero who gave his life in a brutal, bloody and unrelenting one-man stand on a mountain in Afghanistan.
It was also the first ever recorded Medal of Honor, and the footage tells you all you need to know about the guts and courage the 24th STS had in his soul.
Now, his story will come to the big screen with Adam Driver leading the way. This movie is going to rock, and I hope it leads to many more Americans learning about one of our country's greatest heroes.
There is no set release date for "Alone at Dawn," but it's likely it won't be out until late 2026 at the earliest. No matter what, we'll keep following along to make sure Chapman continues to get the respect he earned in blood. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.
I read the book and couldn’t put it down. Biggest take away besides Chapmans heroics are the actions of the SEAL team. Hard to see it any way other than they left him alone to die. YMMV
🙏
I don’t trust a single thing coming out of Hollyweird. They will probably make this movie to denigrate the entire US military.
They claimed they thought he was dead.
Try not to judge the SEALS or Chapman in these situations.
Let’s just keep it simple and celebrate the hero Chapman. He gave his life for his country and displayed exceptional courage and tenacity.
making it to denigrate the military?
They’ve already done that by casting Anne Hathaway.
Should’ve been done by Angel Studios with a all-patriot cast.
That’s just another film I’ll avoid seeing. Ever.
I wonder if they will show how the SEALS abandoned him in battle and later fought his Medal of Honor because the story showed how they effed up.
The entire scandal died down after Navy Seal Britt Slabinski, who was in command of the SEAL team, was also awarded MOH for his actions that day.
Not. Just what I read was said in the story of the incident.
It was a horrible end for a brave man. There are no good ends for brave men though.
Grateful for the officer who saw to the MOH.
Some of the troops involved with Benghazi are up for the MoH and the CIA contactors are pushing back hard saying they didn’t do anything to deserve what’s included in the MoH paperwork.
Is that code for, "I need to go fix my hair so it looks good on the thermal camera, and contact my publicist?"
It's a pretty sad event. I just can't imagine what he felt during those last several minutes. It's a pretty sad event. I just can't imagine what he felt those last several minutes.
Seals left us to die two times. When things got hectic, they bugged out. Twice.
That breaks my heart.
I don’t know Adam Driver known for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, served in the US Marine Corps for three years after the 9/11 attacks. He enlisted in 2001 at age 19, deployed to Iraq in 2004, and was honorably discharged in 2004 after fracturing his sternum in a mountain biking accident. His final rank was Lance Corporal. He also does a lot of charity work for veterans. I don’t think he would play this role poorly.
Hopefully it will be the TRUE story of what Chapman did and what Slabinski didn’t do. Navy Seal brass lied their butts off over this operation.
Reflections: Driver has said his time in the Marines helped him develop discipline and teamwork, and that his experiences in Iraq gave him a new perspective on the world. He has also praised the self-sacrificing nature of military service.
He was and Infantryman and 81mm mortar man
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