The Air Force has dedicated a C-32 aircraft to Master Sgt. John Chapman, the first airman to receive the Medal of Honor for actions taken since the Vietnam War.

The Boeing passenger aircraft — one of six the Air Force uses to fly high-ranking officials such as the vice president, first lady, presidential cabinet members and lawmakers around the world — was dedicated to Chapman during a ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Florida, on Oct. 26, the Air Force said in a release.

“Our nation continues to be the land of the free because of brave men like John Chapman,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said in the Oct. 27 release. “The dedication of this aircraft is just one way we continue to honor John’s legacy.”

Chapman, a combat controller, was killed in a fierce firefight on the Takur Ghar mountaintop in March 2002. Though he was initially believed to have been killed, a years-long analysis of Predator drone footage and other evidence showed he regained consciousness and continued fiercely fighting al-Qaida members to protect an incoming helicopter carrying Army Rangers.

President Trump presented the Medal of Honor to Chapman’s widow, Valerie Nessel, in an Aug. 22 ceremony at the White House.

Nessel, other Chapman family members, and top Air Force officials such as Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein attended three days of events to honor Chapman at Hurlburt.

The Air Force also unveiled his name on the Special Tactics Wall of Honor at Hurlburt in an Oct. 27 ceremony.

When the vice president flies on a C-32, it goes by the call sign Air Force Two.

The C-32 dedicated to Chapman is assigned to the 89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.

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