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His legacy is memorialized in the name of
Captain John L. Chapin High School in El Paso, which was dedicated in 2001. The committee to decide the name for the new school initially planned to use the name of a local Hispanic war hero, but spoke with many living members of Company E, who insisted on
327:
and non-English speakers, and Chapin, who spoke
Spanish fluently, believed leaving his company could bring a non-Spanish-speaking captain who would mistreat the soldiers. Another particular example of Chapin's perceived devotion to his soldiers is his unit's
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At the age of nine years, Chapin met Velma
Perkins, whom he married on April 21, 1937. They had a son named Paul on December 27, 1938. Chapin worked at the El Paso Post Office and planned to attend medical school prior to joining the military.
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While in training, Chapin was promoted and assumed control of the company. He was respected by its members due to his skill and fairness. However, Chapin declined five promotions to the rank of
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Chapin became the commander of a company during World War II and declined multiple promotions to remain with his men. He was injured in the
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Velma did not learn of Chapin's death until
February 22, 1944, exactly a full month after he died. His body is buried at the
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Company E was stationed at various locations across the United States, while Chapin's family eventually chose to settle in
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Chapin's name instead. They cited Chapin's selflessness, refusal to accept promotions, and respect for the people he led.
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373:, where he was severely injured and refused to return home in order to stay with his company. He was killed by German
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instead. He only planned to stay in the unit for a year, but his company was activated in
November 1940 as Company E,
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of a burger restaurant in El Paso. The restaurant's business manager displayed a sign refusing service to
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and
Mexican people, which led to a boycott from the entire unit and a US$ 500 fine for discrimination.
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for his courage and devotion. Only 27 of the 145 present soldiers of
Company E survived the battle.
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774:"Video+Story: Italians honor Captain Chapin, Company E for heroism at Battle of Rapido River"
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197:(March 15, 1913 – January 22, 1944) was an American soldier who served as a
1043:(Expanded ed.). College Station: Texas A & M University Press. pp. 147–148.
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1073:"1944: la battaglia di S. Angelo in Theodice e la confusione tra i fiumi Rapido e Gari"
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This article is about the United States Army captain. For the school in Texas, see
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1178:"Author invited to tell story of El Paso's 'Company E' at National WWII Museum"
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1211:"Wilmer Valderrama Snags Rights To WWII Book 'Patriots From The Barrio'"
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in Italy on
January 22, 1944. He is buried in Italy and memorialized in
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Company E as a whole is remembered through historical books such as
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345:
1244:"Author: 'Slap in the Face' that Chicano WWII Soldiers Forgotten"
221:, worked at the El Paso Post Office, and was soon recruited by a
872:"A writer pays homage to Texas' Mexican-American heroes of WWII"
377:
fire on
January 22, 1944, while trying to break through the
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to stay with his company. Most of his company members were
975:"In The Dark Shadows Of History – Nightmare At The Rapido"
357:
On
December 12, 1942, Chapin departed on a train to the
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American soldiers bringing back the wounded after the
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United States Army personnel killed in World War II
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Texas Aggies go to war: in service of their country
252:John Letcher Chapin was born on March 15, 1913, in
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66:
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30:
718:"Wristwatch takes widow back half-century in time"
304:officer with his degree, and he chose to join the
447:have acquired film and television rights to, and
831:A History of El Paso's Company E in World War II
485:. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015
823:
821:
819:
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479:"Those who came before... Capt. John L. Chapin"
1006:"Men of Company E honored for bravery in WWII"
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863:
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8:
560:Reveles Acosta, Gustavo (October 20, 2000).
300:unit approached Chapin about becoming their
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605:
1102:"Silver Star Awarded El Paso War Heroes".
402:Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial
89:Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial
38:
27:
232:but refused to return home, dying in the
562:"Soldier's belongings donated to school"
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613:"EP Man Killed On Italian Battle Front"
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1317:Military personnel from El Paso, Texas
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1209:Hipes, Patrick (September 29, 2017).
900:from the original on January 22, 2021
716:Edgren, Charlie (September 5, 1994).
541:from the original on October 21, 2016
7:
1004:Martinez, Victor R. (June 4, 2015).
973:Gutierrez, Dave (January 19, 2019).
828:Rodriguez, Jorge (January 1, 2010).
665:"Capt. John Chapin Killed in Action"
985:from the original on April 11, 2021
772:Babcock, Chris (January 20, 2020).
266:El Paso Independent School District
1256:from the original on March 3, 2022
1242:Castillo, Juan (August 20, 2015).
1223:from the original on March 2, 2022
1190:from the original on March 3, 2022
1158:from the original on March 3, 2022
1018:from the original on March 7, 2022
954:from the original on March 3, 2022
746:from the original on March 3, 2022
693:from the original on March 3, 2022
641:from the original on March 3, 2022
590:from the original on March 3, 2022
421:Captain John L. Chapin High School
393:and he was posthumously awarded a
242:Captain John L. Chapin High School
236:while trying to break through the
21:Captain John L. Chapin High School
14:
870:Manrique, Jenny (June 20, 2018).
846:from the original on June 5, 2020
1284:
802:from the original on May 9, 2021
673:. February 24, 1944. p. 7.
621:. February 24, 1944. p. 1.
1322:Texas A&M University alumni
840:University of Texas at El Paso
276:. Chapin earned his degree in
1:
1337:Recipients of the Silver Star
1079:(in Italian). Archived from
534:Texas Military Forces Museum
209:. He was born and raised in
1327:United States Army officers
1037:Dethloff, Henry C. (2008).
230:Battle of San Pietro Infine
1353:
1108:. July 19, 1944. pp.
389:. His body was found in a
18:
16:United States Army captain
503:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
298:Texas Army National Guard
223:Texas Army National Guard
37:
437:Patriots from the Barrio
385:, which occurred on the
282:Texas A&M University
219:Texas A&M University
213:. He earned a degree in
187:Texas A&M University
877:The Dallas Morning News
310:141st Infantry Regiment
248:Early and personal life
134:141st Infantry Regiment
930:Henry Holt and Company
428:
383:Battle of Rapido River
354:
352:Battle of Rapido River
234:Battle of Rapido River
154:Battle of Rapido River
1186:. February 22, 2020.
1154:. Crafted Knowledge.
419:
349:
1083:on November 17, 2015
1071:Petrucci, Giovanni.
449:The Men of Company E
427:, named after Chapin
381:in Italy during the
278:chemical engineering
215:chemical engineering
1183:El Paso Herald-Post
1105:El Paso Herald-Post
779:El Paso Herald-Post
723:El Paso Herald-Post
670:El Paso Herald-Post
195:John Letcher Chapin
1216:Deadline Hollywood
979:War History Online
429:
355:
274:Ysleta High School
272:, graduating from
203:United States Army
113:United States Army
939:978-0-805088-61-8
925:The Day of Battle
441:Wilmer Valderrama
371:San Pietro Infine
361:in Europe during
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529:"John L. Chapin"
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483:Fort Bliss Bugle
477:Larson, Robert.
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445:WM Entertainment
302:chemical warfare
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70:January 22, 1944
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1148:"John L Chapin"
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1077:Studi Cassinati
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932:. p. 344.
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365:. He fought at
306:Infantry Branch
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292:Military career
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836:Master of Arts
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703:Newspapers.com
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651:Newspapers.com
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570:. p. 13.
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425:El Paso, Texas
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256:. He attended
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211:El Paso, Texas
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74:(aged 30)
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60:El Paso, Texas
57:March 15, 1913
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32:John L. Chapin
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726:. p. 9.
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314:36th Division
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150:World War II
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138:36th Division
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1258:. Retrieved
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1225:. Retrieved
1214:
1204:
1192:. Retrieved
1181:
1172:
1160:. Retrieved
1152:Honor States
1151:
1142:
1132:– via
1103:
1097:
1085:. Retrieved
1081:the original
1076:
1066:
1054:. Retrieved
1039:
1032:
1020:. Retrieved
1009:
999:
987:. Retrieved
978:
968:
956:. Retrieved
924:
914:
902:. Retrieved
875:
848:. Retrieved
830:
804:. Retrieved
777:
754:– via
748:. Retrieved
721:
711:
701:– via
695:. Retrieved
668:
659:
649:– via
643:. Retrieved
616:
592:. Retrieved
565:
555:
543:. Retrieved
532:
527:Wever, Dan.
487:. Retrieved
482:
448:
436:
434:
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399:
363:World War II
356:
338:
318:
295:
286:
258:grade school
251:
244:in El Paso.
227:
207:World War II
194:
193:
144:Battles/wars
72:(1944-01-22)
25:
1312:1944 deaths
1307:1913 births
395:Silver Star
379:Winter Line
375:machine gun
262:high school
238:Winter Line
172:Silver Star
132:Company E,
1301:Categories
894:1035116631
455:References
387:Gari River
359:front line
341:California
270:Ysleta ISD
182:Alma mater
101:Allegiance
77:Gari River
53:1913-03-15
1291:Biography
1122:0746-360X
1056:March 13,
948:698976739
886:1553-846X
838:thesis).
788:0746-360X
732:0746-360X
679:0746-360X
627:0746-3588
576:0746-3588
499:cite news
284:in 1936.
1260:March 3,
1254:Archived
1249:NBC News
1227:March 3,
1221:Archived
1194:March 3,
1188:Archived
1162:March 2,
1156:Archived
1130:61313505
1087:March 3,
1022:March 3,
1016:Archived
989:March 2,
983:Archived
958:March 2,
952:Archived
922:(2008).
904:March 2,
898:Archived
850:March 2,
844:Archived
806:March 2,
800:Archived
796:61313505
750:March 1,
744:Archived
740:61313505
697:March 1,
691:Archived
687:61313505
645:March 1,
639:Archived
594:March 1,
588:Archived
545:March 1,
539:Archived
489:March 1,
439:, which
325:Hispanic
129:Commands
635:9978389
584:9978389
406:Nettuno
391:foxhole
367:Salerno
330:boycott
264:in the
205:during
201:in the
199:captain
123:Captain
95:, Italy
93:Nettuno
79:, Italy
1277:Portal
1128:
1120:
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946:
936:
892:
884:
794:
786:
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685:
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625:
582:
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412:Legacy
225:unit.
165:Awards
109:Branch
84:Buried
62:, U.S.
334:Black
321:major
217:from
1262:2022
1229:2022
1196:2022
1164:2022
1126:OCLC
1118:ISSN
1089:2022
1058:2022
1045:ISBN
1024:2022
991:2022
960:2022
944:OCLC
934:ISBN
906:2022
890:OCLC
882:ISSN
852:2022
808:2022
792:OCLC
784:ISSN
752:2022
736:OCLC
728:ISSN
699:2022
683:OCLC
675:ISSN
647:2022
631:OCLC
623:ISSN
596:2022
580:OCLC
572:ISSN
547:2022
505:link
491:2022
443:and
369:and
268:and
260:and
119:Rank
67:Died
47:Born
423:in
404:in
280:at
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
