The United States Air Force is a family, and as with any family stories and traditions abound. Some stories took root from a record-breaking flight or when an influential person or group shattered a long-established paradigm. For example, the SR-71’s legendary acceleration to speeds exceeding mach three instantly springs to mind, as does the 332nd Fighter Group’s largely unexpected successes in the skies over Europe. Indeed, the Tuskegee Airmen’s effectiveness as war-fighters contributed to yet another Air Force tradition, equality in the ranks. Some stories and traditions however, come into being through a sheer quirk of fate. Perhaps it is fitting then, that one such tradition involves the Air Force family and finds its root exactly thirty years to the day, before the Air Force existed.
Exactly one-hundred and thirty years after the Founders signed the United States Constitution on 17 September 1787 a young man from Columbiaville, Michigan raised his right hand and swore the oath of enlistment as he entered Army service. Riley Virgil Chapman’s short career with the U.S. Army began on 17 September 1917 at Camp Custer. Following a short, but brutal training period, Private Chapman deployed with his field artillery unit to the battlefields of France, as the United States lent her might to the effort to end World War One. His tour of duty found him traipsing through cold and muddy battlefield trenches and suffering effects of multiple mustard and chlorine gas attacks. After the war ended, Private Chapman returned home to the United States and like most men of the day, returned to life as a civilian; although, he did remain active with his comrades as they fought for the bonuses and benefits they were promised when they enlisted. This story could have ended here, if not for a quirk of fate that found Private Chapman’s son, Glenn Chapman, sorting some papers regarding his father’s military service.
In the late 1970’s Technical Sergeant Glenn Chapman had only recently retired from a twenty year career with the United States Air Force. As a reconnaissance systems specialist from 1956 to 1977, his career path placed him at the right places, at the right time in order to be directly involved in some of the most pivotal crises of the modern era. One such time and place was the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. A member of the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Glenn was deployed with and a member of the ground crew who launched the U-2 flights that discovered Russian missiles in Cuba. Only a short couple of years later he deployed, again with the U-2, for the first of three deployments to Vietnam. It was only after Glenn retired that he was combing through his collection of twenty years worth of military papers, orders, and citations that he stumbled upon his dad’s enlistment documents mixed in with his own papers. He stared in disbelief at his father’s Army enlistment date of 17 September 1917; it mirrored his own enlistment date into the Air Force, 17 September 1956!
After the initial shock of learning that father and son shared an enlistment date, the quirk of fate faded into the family bible as simply another interesting familial detail. That is, until Glenn’s son signed the dotted line. In early 1986 this writer came home, stood in front of dear old dad, and proudly informed him that he would be leaving for Air Force Basic Training in September. Glenn’s face turned ashen as he asked which day in September and received the news that the report date was only one week later than the date he and his father shared. Amid this writer’s protests, a quick telephone call was all that was needed for recruiter Master Sergeant John Olkonen to jump on board with Glenn. A short time later MSgt Olkonen called back. Although it required a one week adjustment, Private Chapman’s grandson raised his right hand and swore the oath of enlistment on 17 September 1986, serving until 2008 as an Aircraft Crewchief, alternating between the A-10 and U-2 aircraft.
Growing up as an Air Force brat, it was not a surprise when this writer’s son decided to follow in his ancestors’ footsteps by pursuing his own career in the Air Force. Indeed, having been witness to his father’s time in the Air Force, young Riley J. Chapman already knew that a career with the Air Force is “a great way of life!” After hearing the story about the unofficial and largely unplanned family tradition, the folks at the recruiting station were interested, albeit convinced that keeping it alive would prove an impossible task. It was a brand-new recruiter, Staff Sergeant Marvin Contreras who took command of Riley’s “impossible” enlistment process. While the task did seem daunting at times, SSgt Contreras skillfully managed and coordinated the process by marshaling overwhelming support from both the Active Duty and Retired Air Force communities. His dedication and hard work paid off, when Private Chapman’s great-grandson became the fourth consecutive generation to swear to defend the U.S. Constitution on Constitution Day, 17 September 2014.
In addition to the significant role SSgt Contreras had in keeping the tradition alive, individuals too numerous to list contributed voices and skills that provided valuable support. Those individuals ranged from commanders and staff at the Air Force Recruiting Service and Air Force Basic Training Complex, to retired enlisted and officer personnel from the 4080th SRW. Retired Command Chief Master Sergeant Chuck Wooten added his voice, energy, and skills to the cause, even while in the midst of a hard-fought run for congress. In the end, the Air Force family came together and proved, at least for the Air Force, that anything is possible!
The United States Air Force is indeed a family. While the tradition described above might appear to be a Chapman family tradition, nothing could be further from the truth. It is a celebration of the entire Air Force family, whether currently serving, former member, or retired. It is commemoration of the day 230 years ago that the Founders signed the Constitution; the Constitution the Air Force began defending on that very same day, 70 years ago. Alas, it is a story of a day. It is the story of how the whole Air Force family made a full century of history on her 70th birthday.
If you or someone you know has what it takes to be a part of our family, a visit to the local Air Force recruiter would be a fabulous way to celebrate Constitution Day!
By J.M. “Chappy” Chapman