Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with a bipartisan group of lawmakers, called on Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter to posthumously nominate Air Force Sergeant John Chapman for the Medal of Honor. Sergeant Chapman was raised in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and died in 2002 while on a mission in Afghanistan. His widow, Valerie Chapman, now resides in Florida. U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), along with U.S. Representatives John Larson (CT-1), Joe Courtney (CT-2), Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Jim Himes (CT-4), Elizabeth Esty (CT-5), and Jeff Miller (FL-1), joined Blumenthal in sending the letter.

“We write in strong support of the posthumous nomination of Air Force Sergeant John Chapman for the Medal of Honor,” the lawmakers wrote. “Regardless of the exact circumstances of his death, Sergeant Chapman’s valiant actions rightfully qualify him for the Medal of Honor. We are confident that your review of the available evidence will support that his actions displayed uncommon valor and extraordinary dedication, confirming Sergeant Chapman’s heroism and sacrifice.”

The Medal of Honor is our nation’s highest military honor, awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. While serving as an Air Force technical sergeant radioman embedded with SEAL Team Six, Sergeant Chapman is believed to have sustained mortal wounds while fighting to rescue a fellow team member. Recent technological advancements provide further evidence of Sergeant Chapman’s bravery, revealing the strong possibility that he continued to fight after his team’s extraction, dealing fatal blows to the enemy, as reported by the New York Times.

The full text of today’s letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Carter:

We write in strong support of the posthumous nomination of Air Force Sergeant John Chapman for the Medal of Honor. Sergeant Chapman’s nomination has been endorsed by Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and is currently under your consideration.

Raised in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, Sergeant Chapman courageously served and made the ultimate sacrifice to protect his fellow war fighters and our nation. During Operation Anaconda – a March 2002 mission in the eastern mountains of Afghanistan – Sergeant Chapman served as an Air Force technical sergeant radioman embedded with SEAL Team Six. In an effort to rescue a fallen team member, Sergeant Chapman killed two al Qaeda fighters before he was wounded. After sustaining these injuries, Sergeant Chapman was believed to be dead. We may never fully or conclusively know what happened at the end of this mission, but unquestionably, Sergeant Chapman died a hero and bravely continued to fight despite his serious injuries. At the time of his team’s extraction, Sergeant Chapman may well have dealt fatal blows to the enemy and fought fearlessly before succumbing to additional combat wounds.

Regardless of the exact circumstances of his death, Sergeant Chapman’s valiant actions rightfully qualify him for the Medal of Honor. We are confident that your review of the available evidence will support that his actions displayed uncommon valor and extraordinary dedication, confirming Sergeant Chapman’s heroism and sacrifice.

Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to hearing from you on this matter.