Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

2nd Lieutenant (Second Lieutenant)

Unit:

Battery B, 434th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Armored Division "Lucky Seventh", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

February 23rd, 1945

For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, as a member of 434th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, performing duty as a Reconnaissance Officer and Forward Observer with Company "C", 23rd Armored Infantry Battalion, on 29 October 1944. Second Lieutenant Chapin went forward of advanced positions in order to deliver effective artillery fire against a numerically superior enemy. When the supported unit was withdrawn to a better defensive position, he took as his observation post a bullet-ridden house which was being subjected to direct enemy fire. He stood by his post, effectively delivering artillery fire, until the infantry was ordered to retire. Since the officers of the supported unit had been evacuated, he assumed command and successfully withdrew the company in the face of the ' enemy, adjusting protective artillery fire at the same time. Entered military service from Virginia.

Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 23 (1945).