Combat Control Foundation | We are First There

We are excited to show you the 250th Anniversary of America Trike which features incredible custom artwork by world-renowned artist Mickey Harris.

 

This one-of-a-kind trike has been generously DONATED BY The Fanger Family of Blunt, SD (Ken, Joe, Dan, & Crystal) in loving memory of Shirley & Mike.

 

See It Live at Sturgis: The Trike will be proudly displayed in a building right on Main Street in Sturgis, SD during the rally! Mickey Harris will be painting another bike live on-site for the Sturgis rally. Mickey hasn’t done a live paint since 2001, making this a triumphant return 25 years in the making!

 

In September, this stunning trike will cross the block at Barrett Jackson in Las Vegas, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the Combat Control Foundation to support our nation's heroes.

 

#Sturgis #BarrettJackson #America250

15 hours ago | [YT] | 3

Combat Control Foundation | We are First There

🇺🇸 In Memoriam: Remembering Our May Fallen 🇺🇸


As part of our ongoing commitment to honor those who served, we pause each month to observe the legacy of our brothers who passed away that month. This May, we focus our hearts and our memory on this distinguished group of U.S. Air Force Combat Controllers.


These men were more than warriors; they were Sons, Brothers, and Fathers, teammates who embodied the mission to be "First There." Bound together by the sacred ties of service and dedication, they live on in the legacy of the Combat Control community. Their commitment to the hardest missions continues to inspire us daily.


We say their names, so they are Never Forgotten and Always Remembered. We are grateful that such men lived.


A Call for Brotherhood - The weight of these losses can be heavy, and it is important to remember that you are not alone. We encourage everyone in the community to talk to each other, check on each other, and be true brothers. We must continue to be the teammates our brothers, who are no longer with us, would expect us to be.


Learn more about these men by visiting the CCT memorial website: memorial.combatcontrol.team/brothers/


⚡⚡⚡ May Fallen ⚡⚡⚡
Alvin Barksdale (5/24/2026)
Michael Pelley (5/11/2025)
William Nellums (5/9/2025)
Bruce Nyberg (5/23/2024)
Drew Maglio (5/8/2024)
Lt Col Robert Massengale (5/3/2024)
Bernard Sihsmann (5/7/2023)
Lt Col Lawrence Clausen (5/6/2023)
Rick Cheek (5/21/2020)
Chesley Bowden (5/10/2020)
Carnel Elder (5/3/2019)
Col John Buck (5/26/2018)
SMSgt John Johnston (5/16/2015)
CMSgt Thomas Allen (5/17/2014)
Capt Robert Booth (5/10/2013)
Capt Neil Landsberg (5/9/2013)
Joseph Rountree (5/9/2012)
Sean Hopkins (5/17/2011)
Edmund Wallace (5/23/2010)
James Dial (5/7/2010)
A1C Kenneth McCarthy (5/1/2010)
Scott Giuliani (5/29/2009)
William Carsey (5/31/2008)
Larry Choate (5/20/2007)
SSgt Casey Crate (5/30/2005) [Killed-In-Action]
Capt Derek Argel (5/30/2005) [Killed-In-Action]
Capt Jeremy Fresques (5/30/2005) [Killed-In-Action]
MSgt Charles Abee (5/16/2005)
LTC Joseph Klauser (5/6/2004)
Thomas Kelsh (5/17/1999)
Robert Branum (5/23/1998)
Norris Gentry (5/6/1997)
CMSgt Howard Land (5/8/1995)
MSgt Floyd Loveland (5/19/1992)
David Fagan (5/19/1991)
Billy Campbell (5/15/1990)
Eugene McCarthy (5/29/1989)
SSgt Larry Courtroul (5/28/1986)
TSgt Ransom Andrews (5/16/1985)
Capt Michael Dionne (5/9/1984) [Killed-In-Training]
George Genung (5/28/1974)
SSgt Clyde Wales (5/8/1974)
A1C Edward Kimble (5/22/1967) [Killed-In-Training]
SSgt James Proctor (5/8/1967)
A2C David Mayer (5/26/1966)
SMSgt Andre Guillet (5/18/1966) [Missing-In-Action]
Donald Linden (5/26/1961)

1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 173

Combat Control Foundation | We are First There

Today, we remember and honor those who gave their lives in service to their country. We are eternally grateful for their sacrifice, and forever grateful that they existed. #MemorialDay #NeverForgotten #AlwaysRemembered

1 week ago | [YT] | 392

Combat Control Foundation | We are First There

Worn by teammates, families, and patriots, this shirt stands as a living memorial to those who will never be forgotten. We don’t wear it for style. We wear it for them. Each name printed is a Combat Controller who gave their life in the line of duty—either in combat or in training.


All proceeds from the sale of these shirts support the Combat Control Foundation’s mission.


Honor them. Remember them. Get your shirt here: combatcontrolfoundation.org/store

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 30

Combat Control Foundation | We are First There

🎖️ You're Invited! 🎖️ Join us for the 5th Annual Legends Honky Tonk Saloon Gala in Odessa, TX, benefiting the Combat Control Foundation!


Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Location: 6900 Sleepy Hollow St., Odessa, TX 79762


Featured Keynote Speaker will be an Air Force Combat Controller*
*Speaker’s identity is confidential to honor their ongoing service. * Prepare for a story of unparalleled bravery. --Never before shared publicly.


An Exciting Evening of Dinner, Live music & Dancing, Live Auction, Meet & Greet with elite U.S. Air Force Special Operators! Come celebrate courage, sacrifice, and service with the men who are First There and Last Out.


Reserve your table or seat today by contacting Karla Milson at (432) 556-4400.

For Donating, Tickets and Registration Instructions, please visit: www.combatcontrolfoundation.org/gala

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 13

Combat Control Foundation | We are First There

The 2nd Annual Guns, Golf & Gills was an incredible weekend, and the Combat Control Foundation is honored to be the beneficiary of such a dedicated effort. We are walking away with a deep sense of gratitude for everyone who came together to support our mission.

To the sponsors who stepped up: Second Bend Labs, Aware Defense, Staccato, KUSA, Blake and Stephanie Selig, Dakota, Jamie Gilbert, P2, Accel Innovation Corporation, Huestis Law, Post Loyal, SEI Group, Torque Wheels, 1861 Distillery, Johnson Distributing/Anheuser Busch, and United Sciences. Your support is vital to the work we do for our warriors and their families.

We also want to thank everyone who donated, bought auction items, and showed up to support the Foundation. Every bit of that generosity helps us be First There for the Warriors and families we serve.

1 month ago | [YT] | 11

Combat Control Foundation | We are First There

Earlier today, the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial held a Veteran Honor Ceremony to dedicate a black granite plaque to USAF Combat Controller Master Sergeant John A. "Chappy" Chapman. The Combat Control Association and its members were in attendance to honor the incredible legacy of a man who truly lived the motto "First There."

MSgt Chapman was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Takur Ghar in 2002. His actions on that snow-capped mountain—single-handedly engaging dozens of enemy fighters to protect his team and an incoming Quick Reaction Force—saved the lives of more than 20 fellow Americans.

The ceremony featured guest speaker Dan Schilling, a retired Combat Controller and co-author of "Alone at Dawn," who was instrumental in the research that led to Chapman’s Medal of Honor upgrade in 2018. The dedication included formal military honors, the playing of Taps, and the unveiling of the plaque that now joins nearly 7,000 others at this historic site.

We are proud to see "Chappy" recognized at such a prestigious memorial, ensuring his story of valor remains a permanent part of our nation’s history. For those who wish to pay their respects, the memorial is located in La Jolla, CA, and is open daily to the public.

For more information about MSgt John A. Chapman, please visit: www.combatcontrolfoundation.org/combat-control-his…

#FirstThere #CombatControl #JohnChapman #AloneAtDawn

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1 month ago | [YT] | 56

Combat Control Foundation | We are First There

Great perspective from a USAF CCT

1 month ago | [YT] | 2

Combat Control Foundation | We are First There

March 4, 2002 | Takur Ghar, Afghanistan ⚡

During the intense 17-hour engagement known as the Battle of Robert’s Ridge, SSgt Gabriel Brown distinguished himself through conspicuous gallantry as a Combat Controller assigned to a Quick Reaction Force (QRF). The mission aimed to recover two American servicemen evading capture on a mountaintop occupied by massed al-Qaida forces. As their MH-47E Chinook attempted to land, it was raked by rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire, causing it to crash-land in the snow. Immediately upon exiting the ramp, the team was met with a devastating hail of fire that caused multiple fatalities and critical casualties, including the later-mortally wounded USAF Pararescueman Senior Airman Jason Cunningham.

Pinned behind a rock less than 20 meters from an entrenched enemy bunker, Brown ignored the blizzard of "confetti-like" insulation and lead flying around him to establish satellite communications. He recognized that the survival of the 26 remaining servicemen depended entirely on technical lethality and precise airpower. Because the enemy was so close, Brown initially waved off heavy bombs to avoid fratricide, instead directing fighter aircraft through eight perilous strafing runs. As al-Qaida reinforcements began flanking the team from the south, the situation became desperate. Brown made the "danger-close" decision to call in three GBU-12 guided bombs and two Hellfire missiles within a mere 75 meters of his own position.

The resulting strikes skidded across the mountainside, collapsing the enemy bunker and incinerating a cluster of trees Brown used as a reference point. Even as mortars bracketed their position and temperatures plummeted, he remained glued to his radio, "talking the bombs onto targets" to prevent the small force from being overrun. While Brown orchestrated the air-to-ground destruction of the enemy, his teammate, Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, crossed the line of fire seven times to move wounded Rangers to safety before being fatally struck himself, actions which awarded him the Air Force Cross.

By the time extraction helicopters arrived under the cover of darkness, Brown’s masterful control of close air support had eliminated the immediate threats and secured the high terrain. For his boldness of spirit and for saving the lives of 26 teammates during the most harrowing scenario of Operation Anaconda, Staff Sergeant Brown was awarded the Silver Star. His actions, alongside the sacrifice of his teammates, became a defining chapter in the history of Air Force Special Tactics.

3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 43

Combat Control Foundation | We are First There

When we ask what makes special operations truly "special," the answer is simple: "Look no further than John Chapman." Those were the words of Col John "Coach" Carney, the father of Air Force Special Tactics, at the USAF Memorial in 2018. It’s a powerful testament to the fact that John is the only Airman to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.

John, or "Chappy" to those who knew him, didn't start out as an elite Combat Controller. He joined the Air Force in 1985 working in information systems before he felt the call to push further, retraining for Special Tactics in 1990. But his character was formed long before he wore a uniform. As a kid, he was the one standing up to bullies. He was the guy who protected those around him simply because it was the right thing to do.

On March 4, 2002, on the freezing slopes of Takur Ghar during Operation Anaconda, that lifelong commitment to others reached its peak. In a brutal 17-hour firefight, John made the ultimate decision to stand in the line of fire. His actions that day cost him his life but saved the lives of 23 of his teammates. He didn't do it for a medal or for glory; he did it for the people standing next to him.

John’s legacy isn't just a historical footnote. It’s a living example for all of us. He showed us that integrity isn't something you find only on a battlefield—it’s how you live every single day. It’s about being a leader of character, choosing service before self, and having the courage to stand up when everyone else sits down. As CMSgt Mike Lamonica put it, John was quite simply a man of character.

Today, we remember MSgt John A. Chapman not just for his extraordinary heroism, but for the kind of man he was to his friends, his family, his brothers and his country.


We remember those killed and wounded that day:
--- Killed (all received the Purple Heart)
USAF 24th Special Tactics Squadron:
- Master Sergeant John A. Chapman (CCT) (Medal of Honor, Posthumous)

USAF 38th Rescue Squadron:
- Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham (PJ) (Air Force Cross, Posthumous) Note: Jason is the first PJ to have received the Air Force Cross since the Vietnam War. He was also the first PJ killed in action since the Vietnam War.

SEAL Team Six:
- Petty Officer First Class Neil "Fifi" C. Roberts (Silver Star, Posthumous)
75th Ranger Regiment:
- Corporal Matthew A. Commons (Silver Star, Posthumous)
- Sergeant Bradley S. Crose (Silver Star, Posthumous)
- Specialist Marc A. Anderson (Silver Star, Posthumous)
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne):
- Sergeant Philip "Spytech" Svitak (Silver Star, Posthumous)

--- Wounded (all received the Purple Heart)

USAF 17th Air Support Operations Squadron:
- Staff Sergeant Kevin Vance (TACP), wounded by RPG fragments. (Silver Star)

SEAL Team Six:
- Aviation Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Stephen “Turbo” Toboz Jr., wounded in the left lower leg. (Silver Star)
- Electronics Technician 2nd Class Brett Morganti, wounded in both legs. (Silver Star)

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne):
- Chief Warrant Officer Donald Tabron, wounded by a single gunshot wound in the index finger. (Silver Star)
- Sergeant First Class Cory Lamoreaux, wounded by a single gunshot wound in the abdomen. (Silver Star)
- Staff Sergeant David Dube, wounded by a single gunshot wound in the left leg. (Silver Star)
- Chief Warrant Officer Greg Calvert, wounded by small arms fire to the left arm and hand, and RPG shrapnel to both legs. (Bronze Star w/ Valor)
- Chief Warrant Officer Chuck Gant, wounded by heavy machine gun fire to the left leg. (Silver Star)

75th Ranger Regiment:
- Captain Nate Self, wounded by RPG fragments. (Silver Star)
- Staff Sergeant Ray DePouli, wounded by RPG fragments. (Silver Star)
- Private First Class David Gilliam, wounded by RPG fragments. (Bronze Star w/ Valor)
- Specialist Aaron Totten-Lancaster, wounded by RPG fragments. (Bronze Star w/ Valor)

3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 44