John Letcher Chapin (March 15, 1913 – January 22, 1944) was an American soldier who served as a captain in the United States Army during World War II.

[2] Chapin worked at the El Paso Post Office[4][6] and planned to attend medical school prior to joining the military.

[7] A Texas Army National Guard unit approached Chapin about becoming their chemical warfare officer with his degree,[2] and he chose to join the Infantry Branch instead.

The restaurant's business manager displayed a sign refusing service to Black and Mexican people, which led to a boycott from the entire unit and a US$500 fine for discrimination.

He fought at Salerno and San Pietro Infine, where he was severely injured and refused to return home in order to stay with his company.

[2] His body is buried at the Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Italy,[16] and his gravestone displays the letters "KIA" to symbolize that he was killed in action defending the United States.