Army Spc. Jason K. Chappell, 22; Killed in Car Bomb Blast in Iraq

Army Spc. Jason K. Chappell had spent nearly all of his senior year at Hemet High School poring over math and science textbooks preparing for grueling Academic Decathlon competitions.

So, when the academic standout announced that he planned to enlist in the Army rather than go straight to college after graduation in June 2000, his relatives and teachers were somewhat surprised, yet understanding.

Chappell’s decision took him to Iraq, where he and two other soldiers were killed Jan. 24 when a powerful bomb exploded in a vehicle that had pulled up next to their armored truck in an area west of Baghdad, military officials said.

A memorial service was held Thursday at Ft. Hood, Texas, where Chappell was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division’s Company B, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment. Relatives are planning a local memorial service at the First Southern Baptist Church of Hemet, where Chappell sang in the choir and was active in a youth group.

“In his last communication to me, he stated, ‘Mom, I could die any time and in any number of ways, but I am here so that you can remain free,’ ” said his mother, Gail Farnsworth of Hemet. “He will always be a hero in our eyes.”

As of Friday, 519 American servicemen and women had been killed in Iraq, 381 since major fighting ended May 1, military officials said. Chappell is one of 57 military men and women with ties to California who have died.

Chappell, 22, was born in San Dimas, and moved with his family to Hemet, where he attended local schools. As a teenager, he loved to watch sports and played Clue and Monopoly with passion.

With a 3.8 grade-point average, Chappell was a leading member of Hemet High’s Academic Decathlon team. He excelled in math and science, and earned 13 medals in Riverside County competitions.

“He was a very good student who was intense and motivated,” said Hemet High Principal Bill Black. “The teachers who knew him are shocked and saddened by the tragedy.”

After graduation, Chappell told his parents that he was tired of the academic grind and wanted to take some time off to figure out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, Farnsworth said.

Chappell joined the Army in July 2001, and was later assigned to Ft. Hood. A year later, he met and married his wife, Steffi, of Fort Worth. The couple did not have any children.

Chappell was very much aware of the potential peril he faced when he was deployed to Iraq in September, relatives said.

“He knew that it was dangerous, but that was his job,” said his aunt, Susan Priest of Cathedral City. “He knew what he had to do.”

Chappell also is survived by his father, Mitchell Farnsworth; a sister, Lisa; and several other relatives.