CENTERBURG — U.S. Air Force Capt. Peter Hayden Chapman II, a Centerburg High School graduate who was killed 50 years ago in Vietnam, will be remembered during a Memorial Day (May 30) ceremony at Centerburg’s Eastview Cemetery.
Seating will be provided at the 11 a.m. program.
The U.S. Air Force Band of Flight will provide music at the cemetery and at a free 2 p.m. concert at Centerburg High School.
Capt. Chapman was killed when the HH-53 helicopter he was piloting, code-named Jolly Green 67, crashed on April 6, 1973, after taking heavy enemy fire during a rescue mission. Five others on board also were killed.
Capt. Chapman was due to rotate home but he volunteered for the mission to rescue Lt. Col. Iceal “Gene” Hambleton, who was trapped behind enemy lines after his aircraft was shot down four days earlier. Hambleton was director of surface-to-air countermeasures in Vietnam and had top-secret knowledge of U.S. air defense systems.
Lt. Col. Hambleton was rescued after evading capture for 11 days. His story was the subject of a book and the 1988 film Bat*21 starring Gene Hackman.
“The ceremony will recognize Capt. Chapman’s sacrifice, along with all those who have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our country,” said Centerburg Superintendent Mike Hebenthal, a 27-year U.S. Air Force veteran.
“Special speakers will be CMSgt Samuel Given, 121st Air Refueling Wing Superintendent, and Brad McDavid, a classmate of Capt. Chapman, who is Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Washington.”
Since 1973 Centerburg Local Schools and the Chapman family have presented an annual award to a student in honor of Capt. Chapman. Many of those award recipients will be present at the ceremony.
