Rochester, N.Y. Marine, receives Navy Cross (Things you won't hear about in Old Media)

Marinelink ^ | 5/6/04 | Cpl. Jeremy Vought

[So Cal Rocket]

Rochester, N.Y. Marine, receives Navy Cross
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 200456162723
Story by Cpl. Jeremy Vought



MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(May 6, 2004) -- Marine Capt. Brian R. Chontosh received the Navy Cross Medal from the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, during an awards ceremony Thursday at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Training Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Three other Marines received medals for valor at the same ceremony.

Chontosh, 29, from Rochester, N.Y. , received the naval service's second highest award for extraordinary heroism while serving as Combined Anti-Armor Platoon Commander, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 25, 2003. The Medal of Honor is the highest military award.

While leading his platoon north on Highway 1 toward Ad Diwaniyah, Chontosh's platoon moved into a coordinated ambush of mortars, rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapons fire. With coalitions tanks blocking the road ahead, he realized his platoon was caught in a kill zone.

He had his driver move the vehicle through a breach along his flank, where he was immediately taken under fire from an entrenched machine gun. Without hesitation, Chontosh ordered the driver to advanced directly at the enemy position enabling his .50 caliber machine gunner to silence the enemy.

He then directed his driver into the enemy trench, where he exited his vehicle and began to clear the trench with an M16A2 service rifle and 9 millimeter pistol. His ammunition depleted, Chontosh, with complete disregard for his safety, twice picked up discarded enemy rifles and continued his ferocious attack.

When a Marine following him found an enemy rocket propelled grenade launcher, Chontosh used it to destroy yet another group of enemy soldiers.

When his audacious attack ended, he had cleared over 200 meters of the enemy trench, killing more than 20 enemy soldiers and wounding several others.

"They are the reflection of the Marine Corps type who's service to the Marine Corps and country is held above their own safety and lives," said Gen. Hagee, commenting on the four Marines who received medals during the ceremony. "I'm proud to be here awarding the second highest and third highest awards for bravery to these great Marines."

"These four Marines are a reflection of every Marine and sailor in this great battalion," said Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada.

"I was just doing my job, I did the same thing every other Marine would have done, it was just a passion and love for my Marines, the experience put a lot into perspective," said Chontosh.

In effect since April 1917, and established by an Act of Congress on Feb. 4, 1919, the Navy Cross may be awarded to any person who, while serving with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself/herself in action by extraordinary heroism not justifying an award of the Medal of Honor.

The action must take place under one of three circumstances: while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
To earn a Navy Cross the act to be commended must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk and must be performed in such a manner as to render the individual highly conspicuous among others of equal grade, rate, experience, or position of responsibility.

More than 6,000 Navy Crosses have been awarded since World War I.

[So Cal Rocket]

Why won't Old Media report on the likes of Marine Captain Brian Chontosh?

[So Cal Rocket]

[bayourod]

"Old Media". I like that. You should have trademarked it.

[Brooklyn Kid]

I salute you, Captain Chontosh. Thank you for your brave service.

[cavtrooper21]

Because he's one of the "good guys"..
who isn't dead, trans-sexual, involved in a scandal, has actually killed the enemy rather than lead them around on a leash, and isn't even close to being any sort of embarrassment to the Bush administration. Therefore he's not news worthy, except to us and the rest of the military.

[newsgatherer]

bump for tuesday

[VOA]

When a Marine following him found an enemy rocket propelled grenade launcher,
Chontosh used it to destroy yet another group of enemy soldiers.

Hey Mohammed, you forgot your RPG!

I'm sure fighting out of this kill zone was a sweaty affair...but kicking these
bad-boys with their own RPG: Sweet!

[rotstan]

I have to wonder just what one needs to do in order to get a Medal of Honor. I mean this guy definitely did a hard core one-man crazy-brave maneuver, clearing out a trench full of Iraqis ambushing his column. Heck, he saved the platoon. Surely that counts as above and beyond the call? What did he have to do to qualify for the CMOH, jump on a grenade or get killed during his charge?

[bc2]

Upstate New York ping

[OldCorps]

job well done, Marine! We're proud of you!

[ExSafecracker]

Thats one Bad-Ass Yankee right there.

[txzman]

Now THAT's a Marine!

[Flavius]

You know this web site is like a national tresure
really is an amazing place...

[Victoria Delsoul]

"They are the reflection of the Marine Corps type who's service to the Marine Corps and country is held above their own safety and lives," said Gen. Hagee, commenting on the four Marines who received medals during the ceremony. "I'm proud to be here awarding the second highest and third highest awards for bravery to these great Marines."

Good article, thanks. Thank God for the Internet and forums like these to get the facts.

[irv]

Rochester, N.Y. Marine, receives Navy Cross

There's not much that makes me proud to be from Rochester, but once in a while, something does come up.

[The Mayor]

[jigsaw]

Additional articles about Capt. Chontosh Here.

[Camel Joe]

He forgot to pull a fast one and self inflict a wound, through shear stupidity I might add.

[MediaMole]

Marine Medal of Honor Citations

an example...

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
CORPORAL ROBERT E. O'MALLEY
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the communist {Viet Cong} forces at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Squad Leader in Company I, Third Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division {Reinforced} near An Cu'ong 2, South Vietnam, on 18 August 1965. While leading his squad in the assault against a strongly entrenched enemy force, his unit came under intense small arms fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Corporal O'Malley raced across an open rice paddy to a trench line where the enemy forces were located. Jumping into the trench, he attacked the Viet Cong with his rifle and grenades, and singly killed eight of the enemy. He then led his squad to the assistance of an adjacent Marine unit which was suffering heavy casualties. Continuing to press forward, he reloaded his weapon and fired with telling effect into the enemy emplacement. He personally assisted in the evacuation of several wounded Marines, and again regrouping the remnants of his squad, he returned to the point of the heaviest fighting. Ordered to an evacuation point by an officer, Corporal O'Malley gathered his besieged and badly wounded squad, and boldly led them under fire to a helicopter for withdrawal. Although three times wounded in this encounter, and facing imminent death from a fanatic and determined enemy, he steadfastly refused evacuation and continued to cover his squad's boarding of the helicopter while, from an exposed position, he delivered fire against the enemy until his wounded men were evacuated. Only then, with his last mission accomplished, did he permit himself to be removed from the battlefield. By his valor, leadership, and courageous efforts in behalf of his comrades, he served as an inspiration to all who observed him, and reflected the highest credit upon the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.

/S/ LYNDON B. JOHNSON

----

The standards for receiving the Medal of Honor have gotten even higher since Vietnam. The last two were given posthumously to Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart who repeatedly volunteered, despite repeated denials from their commanders, to go to the aid of a downed Blackhawk in Mogadishu even though it was a suicide mission. They gave their lives to save the life of pilot Michael Durant.