Donald D. Chapman – Rear Admiral, United States Navy

From a contemporary press report:

Donald D. Chapman, 84, a retired Navy rear admiral who practiced law privately in Arlington from 1971 to 1989, often representing military families, died of complications from a stroke July 31, 2002, at Bethesda Naval Medical Center. He had lived in Arlington since 1966.

Admiral Chapman, a native of Thalia, Texas, was a graduate of Texas Tech University and the University of Texas law school. His 29-year Navy career included service in the Pacific and Atlantic during World War II before he became a Navy lawyer.

He was a staff legal officer for the Pacific Fleet during the Korean War. His last tour of duty was at the Pentagon was in the Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) office. He retired from active duty in 1971 as a deputy judge advocate general.

Admiral Chapman’s decorations included the Legion of Merit.

He had served as U.S. representative to the Inter-American Bar Association and had been president in the 1990s of the Judge Advocates Association.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Norene Chapman of Arlington; and two sons, Randall and Ronald, both of Austin.

Donald D. Chapman

On Thursday, July 31, 2002. Funeral services will be at the Old Post Chapel, Fort Myer, VA at 9 a.m. Thursday, Sepetember 5, followed by interment with Full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Friends are welcome to send flowers or to make a memorial contribution to the Arlington Hospice, Acute Care Unit, 4715 N. 15th St., Arlington, VA 22205.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard