Actor Ben Chapman was the star of the 1954 cult classic Creature from the Black Lagoon. In fact, Chapman, who just passed away this February at the age of 79, didn’t star in many movies – five altogether. Nevertheless, his best acting may have been when talking to family and fans about his military career.
For decades, Chapman claimed to have won the Silver Star (given for “gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States”), the Bronze Star (given for “heroic or meritorious achievement or service”), and two Purple Hearts (given for “Being wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed forces.”) He also claimed to have been part of the Frozen Chosin, those 30,000 troops under General Douglas MacArthur that fought off twice as many Chinese troops at the Chosin Reservoir in sub-zero temperatures.
Chapman, who was real estate executive before filming Creature, did serve in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. After his death, most publications ran the story that he was a decorated veteran, but the Marine Corps Times decided to do an investigation. What set them off to the possible deception was the fact that it is extremely rare to receive two Purple Hearts for the same campaign.
What investigators found after looking into his records was that Chapman did not receive the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, or two Purple Hearts. He had arrived in Korea, but eleven days after the Chosin campaign was over, so he wasn’t a part of that either. The Marine Corps could find two awards that Chapman received – the Korean Service Medal with one star (given to anyone who served in Korea during the war) and the United Nations Medal.
Chapman’s son claims there must be a mistake because he has a box with his Dad’s awards; however, he kept no documentation for the medals. Chapman had a good story. As of 2005, he gave an interview in which he said about the Chosin battle, “The military said it was a bad situation and everyone should pull out — like a retreat. The Chinese came down with 20 divisions and they surrounded us. When they found out they had the USMC surrounded, the word was, ‘No prisoners. Kill every one of them.’ So we fought our way out and we did make our way out.”
However, like my last blog about writers who make up “real” stories, Chapman is not the first to fabricate a heroic military record. I discovered on vacation a couple of weeks ago that military medals are sold at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, so pretty much anyone could buy one. Back when Chapman began his story, people just took you at your word and maybe over the years, he too began to believe it himself.