Longport American Legion announces this year’s Wounded Warrior Week recipient

The LONGPORT – American Legion Post 469 has announced its 2025 Wounded Warrior Week honoree. It is the 14th year the Legion has honored one of the nation’s bravest soldiers, sailors and flyers who sustained injuries in service.

U.S. Army Green Beret Sgt. 1st Class Chase Tanton, his wife, Rebecca, and their six children, ages 9 months to 16 years old, will be travelling from their home in Provo, Utah, to enjoy a weeklong, all-expenses-paid vacation at the Jersey Shore, Sept. 16-23. 

Tanton, who was born and raised in Sacramento, California, and attended the University of Oregon as a member of the university’s ROTC, joined the U.S. Army as an intelligence analyst in 2002 following the 9-11 attacks on the nation. He attended Airborne School, was assigned to the 525th Military Intelligence Brigade (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

    Chase and Rebecca Tanton
  

He volunteered for Special Forces Selection and Assessment in the Spring of 2004 and was selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course as an 18D (Special Forces Medical Sergeant). Before Tanton could attend the Q-Course, he deployed as a member of a Tactical HUMINT Team to Operation Iraqi Freedom from November 2004 to 2005, spending the majority of that deployment in Samarra, Iraq. 

While on mid-tour leave during his Iraq deployment, he met Rebecca, whom he continued to date during the remainder of his deployment. After returning from Iraq in November 2005, the couple married in Provo, Utah in March of 2006. 

Soon after marriage, Tanton graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2008.  Assigned to A company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), he was assigned to a Military Free Fall Team (HALO/HAHO), where he became both a static line and military free fall jumpmaster, completing hundreds of parachute jumps, and was deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom from 2010-2011 and again from 2014-2015. 

    U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Chase Tanton
  

Tanton sustained several injuries during his deployments, due to enemy Improvised Explosive Devices and engagements, most notably in 2010, in Maiwand District, Kandahar Province. While on an ATV patrol, one of the larger vehicles in the patrol hit an IED. Tanton was thrown approximately 20 feet in front of the vehicle, knocked unconscious and later was found to have been struck in his rear ballistic plate with the head of a sledgehammer that was blown out of one of the outside compartments on the vehicle, causing him to fracture two vertebrae. Despite his injury, which was unknown to him at the time, he treated and evacuated other injured members of his team and continued the mission. It wasn’t until years later that Chase discovered the extent of that back injury when his fractured vertebrae collapsed, requiring emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on his spinal cord. 

Tanton medically retired from the military in February 2017. 

After his retirement, he concentrated on his family and education. The couple now has six children, Bronson, Camryn, Brock, Conrad, Claire and Lindsey, who keep their parents busy with sports tournaments and weekend activities. 

Tanton continued his education and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Utah Valley University and a master’s degree in International Security Policy from Arizona State University.

He is currently a patrol sergeant for the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, and is a team leader on the Utah County Metro SWAT Team. He also teaches Tactical Combat Casualty Care and is an asset for Tactical Medicine for the state. 

    U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Chase Tanton
  

Tanton is the recipient of a Bronze Star Medal for Valor, Bronze Star Medal 3rd Award, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal 2nd Award, Army Commendation Medal 2nd Award, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal 4th Award, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal 3 Campaign Stars, NATO Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal 1 Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Valorous Unit Award,  NCO Professional Development Ribbon 3rd Award, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge, Driver’s Badge, and Special Forces Tab.

    Chase Tanton and his family.
  

Longport’s American Legion Post is counting on the support of local Downbeach residents, businesses and veterans’ organizations for another hugely successful Wounded Warrior Week celebration. 

The Taunton family’s week will include many events designed to make for an unforgettable experience as a way to thank him and his family for their many contributions to the country.

For any questions or to support the program, contact American Legion Post 469 Commander, Larry Pacentrilli at [email protected].

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