john chapman Archives -

Retired Air Force Combat Controller Gene Adcock joins me to talk about his new book, “Combat Control Team History“.

Since joining the Air Force in 1955 and retiring in 1977, Mr. Adcock has continued to contribute to the CCT career field. This book is another example with its estimated 800 pages and weight of 10 pounds.

Gene gives us a brief history of combat control, dating back to its origins in WWII. We talk Operation Varsity, Operation Overlord, Carpetbaggers – all from WWII, and the ill-fated rescue attempt code named Desert One from the Iranian hostage crisis.

It’s probably safe to say that Air Force combat controllers have been part of all major conflicts where the US has been involved. It’s also safe to say that most of the time, very few know that CCT’s are part of those missions–including Philippines, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Haiti, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Click here to order this massive book: Combat Control Team History

Other books/articles referenced in our conversation:

U.S. Special Operations Forces

CCT The Eye of the Storm

Gene Adcock Biography

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In the predawn hours of March 4, 2002, just below the 10,000-foot peak of a mountain in Afghanistan, a fierce battle raged. Outnumbered by Al Qaeda fighters, Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman and a handful of SEALs struggled to take the summit in a desperate bid to find a lost teammate. Chapman, leading the charge, was gravely wounded in the initial assault. Believing he was dead, his SEAL leader ordered a retreat. Chapman regained consciousness, finding himself alone with the enemy who was closing in on three sides. Thus began the most difficult and exceptional fight of his life.

For the U.S., the battle proved the deadliest entanglement of Operation Anaconda. We lost 7 men there at Takur Ghar, including Jason Cunningham and Neil Roberts.

On August 22, 2018, Pres Trump posthumously awarded the medal of honor to John Chapman. My guest today, Dan Schilling, has written a book, Alone at Dawn, to capture the life and legacy of this American Hero.

Although the book doesn’t come out until June, I loved getting an inside scoop on Chapman’s life leading up to his final mission and how Dan became involved.

We also talk about his extreme sports and why he set a Guinness World Record for 201 BASE jumps in 24 hours.

Pre-order Alone at Dawn here plus check out Dan’s other books.

Watch drone footage of Chapman’s incredibly heroic final stand here.

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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Ep 086 | Gene Adcock – Combat Control Team History

Ep 064 – Dan Schilling | Alone at Dawn