On March 4, 2002, deep in the snow-covered peaks of Afghanistan, Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman died in one of the most heroic actions of the war. Years later, a grainy, infrared video of his last stand—fighting alone against a superior enemy force—shocked the nation and earned him the Medal of Honor.

But how that video came to light is a story few know.

In this episode of The After Action Report, I speak with Frank Dailey, a former Air Force intelligence analyst who was on the inside from day one. Dailey walks us through the operation that led to Chapman’s death, the initial attempts to bury the video, and the internal resistance from SEALs who didn’t want the narrative to change. It’s a conversation about truth, power, and the quiet battle waged to honor a fallen hero the right way.

If you care about accountability in elite military units, intelligence ethics, and what it really takes to speak truth to power in Washington, don’t miss this one.

🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

📌 Andrew Milani's paper on Takur Ghar: Pitfalls of Technology: A Case Study of the Battle on Takur Ghar Mountain, Afghanistan, available at: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA414541

Theme music by Ryan Hettena

Title card by Dean Lubensky

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

Listen on Spotify:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theiceman.substack.com/subscribe