Captain John L Chapin
Silver Star
John L Chapin was born in El Paso Texas on May 15, 1913 to Mr. and Mrs. JL Chapin. He attended El Paso HS. After high school John enrolled at NMAMC. He completed 2 years there and transferred to Texas A & M. He graduated from Texas A & M in 1936 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He returned to El Paso and worked in the Post Office while taking graduate courses at UTEP in hope of gaining admission to medical school. In 1937 he married Velma and in 1938 their son Paul was born. John joined the National Guard to gain money to help pay for school costs. In 1940 the unit was activated as Company ‘E’, 141st Infantry, 36th Division. The unit was made up entirely of men from El Paso and Juarez. In December 1942 Velma and Paul saw John off on the train as his unit shipped to Africa to prepare for the invasion of Italy. The unit participated in the invasion of Italy at Salerno and moved into treacherous fighting throughout the campaign. Despite five opportunities for promotion to Major, John refused each in order to remain with his men as Company Commander. On December 16th during the Battle of San Pietro Captain Chapin was wounded and sent to a rear aid station.
Upon learning that his unit had been ordered to participate in the near suicidal mission to cross the Rapido River John left the hospital without being cleared to return to his men. On January 22, 1944 his unit was one of the few to make it to the far side of the Rapido River under constant mortar and machine gun fire. They fought until out of ammunition and cleared the way through barbed wire defenses awaiting relief. The relief arrived 15 minutes too late and all the men who made it across the river were either dead or captured. Captain John Chapin received the Silver Star for his “magnificent courage and devotion to duty”. Today he rests in the Sicily Rome American Cemetery. Chapin High School in El Paso was named in his honor. He was 32 years of age at the time of his death.
