FReeper Canteen ~ The Navy Cross ~ November 7, 2005

Heckle & Jeckle

[StarCMC]

 

 

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Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

 

The FReeper Canteen
looks at
The Navy Cross

 
 

Establishing Authority

The Navy Cross was established by Act of Congress (Public Law 253, 65th Congress), approved on February 4, 1919.

Effective Dates

The Navy Cross has been in effect since April 6, 1917.

Criteria

The Navy Cross may be awarded to any person who, while serving with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself 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. An accumulation of minor acts of heroism does not justify an award of the Navy Cross.

Order of Precedence

The Navy Cross is worn after the Medal of Honor and before all other decorations.

Devices

Additional awards of the Navy Cross are denoted by gold stars five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter.

Designer

The Navy Cross was designed by James Earl Fraser (1876-1953).

First Recipient

The first actual recipient of the Navy Cross is unknown because intial awards were made from a lengthy list published after the First World War.

Description and Symbolism

 

Obverse

The Navy Cross is a modified cross patée one and a half inches wide (the ends of its arms are rounded whereas a conventional cross patée has arms that are straight on the end). There are four laurel leaves with berries in each of the re-entrant arms of the cross. In the center of the cross a sailing vessel is depicted on waves, sailing to the viewer's left. The vessel is a symbolic caravel of the type used between 1480 and 1500. Fraser selected the caravel because it was a symbol often used by the Naval Academy and because it represented both naval service and the tradition of the sea. The laurel leaves with berries refer to achievement.

Reverse

In the center of a bronze cross patée one and a half inches wide, crossed anchors from the pre-1850 period, with cables attached. The letters USN appear amid the anchors.

Ribbon

 

The ribbon is navy blue with a center stripe of white. the blue alludes to Navy service and the white represents the purity of selflessness.
 

 

 

Statistical Summary of Navy Cross Awards
Event	USN	USMC	Army	USCG	Foreign	Civilian	TOTAL
World War I	1,146	370	12	35	95	--	1,658
Haiti	--	10	--	--	--	--	10
Gillespie Expedition	3	--	--	9	--	--	12
Lake Denmark Explosion	4	16	--	--	--	--	20
Florence H. Explosion	62	--	--	--	--	--	62
Byrd Expedition	4	4	--	--	--	--	8
NC Flights	14	--	1	--	--	--	15
Panay Incident	23	--	1	--	2	--	26
Squalus Rescue	46	--	--	--	--	--	46
Other	33	3	--	--	--	--	36
2nd Nicaragua	13	89	--	--	--	--	102
World War II	2,661	946	13	6	17	2	3,645
Korea	39	206	1	--	--	--	246
Vietnam	120	363	1	--	--	1	485
USS Liberty Incident	1	--	--	--	--	--	1
Pueblo Incident	--	1	--	--	--	--	1
Grenada	--	1	--	--	--	--	1
Desert Storm	--	2	--	--	--	--	2
Just Cause (Panama)	1	--	--	--	--	--	1
TOTALS	4,170	2,012	28	50	114	3	6,375

 

Table source: Fischer, Ronald E., "The Navy Cross," Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America, Vol. 45, No. 2, March 1994.

Source:  History of the Navy Cross

 

There have been 8 Navy Crosses awarded at this time for the War on Terror.  Click on their names to read their citations!

• Stephen Bass (US Navy) (Afghanistan)
• Britt Slabinski (US Navy)(Afghanistan)
• Chontosh, Brian R. (USMC)(Iraq)
• Lehew, Justin D. (USMC)(Iraq)
• Martinez, Marco A. (USMC)(Iraq)
• Perez, Joseph B. (USMC)(Iraq)
• Louis E. Fonseca (US Navy) (Iraq)
• Montoya, Scott C. (USMC) (Iraq)
• Copeland, Willie L., III (USMC) (Iraq)
• Morel, Brent (USMC)(Iraq)

Source:  Home of the Heroes

 

 

Rochester, N.Y. Marine, receives Navy Cross
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification #: 200456162723
Story by Cpl. JeremyVought



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.

Source: Marine Link

 

Today's Field Trip:  USS Nassau (LHA-4)

 

 

 

Thank you to our heroes on the USS Nassau.  May God be with you on your journeys and keep watch over you and your families while you're away!  We got your back!

 

 

 

 

Please remember: 

The Canteen exists to support our military heroes serving all over the world and their families.  There are lots of places around Free Republic to talk about politics and debate your views.  Please try to keep it out of the Canteen.  We want to the Canteen to be a place where the guys and gals who are serving can sit down, kick their shoes off and relax and not have to keep their guard up.  Thanks for your help! 
Now go out there and have FUN!!!!   
*HUGS!*

 

[StarCMC]

 

 

Bumper of My SUV
Chely Wright
 

I've got a bright red sticker on the back of my car,
Says: "United States Marines."
An' yesterday a lady in a mini-van,
Held up her middle finger at me.
Does she think she knows what I stand for,
Or the things that I believe?
Just by looking at a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.

See, my brother Chris, he's been in,
For more than 14 years now.
Our Dad was in the Navy during Vietnam,
Did his duty, then he got out.
And my Grandpa earned his Purple Heart,
On the beach of Normandy.
That's why I've got a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.

But that doesn't mean that I want war:
I'm not Republican or Democrat.
But I've gone all around this crazy world,
Just to try to better understand.
An' yes, I do have questions:
I get to ask them because I'm free.
That's why I've got a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.

'Cause I've been to Hiroshima,
An' I've been to the DMZ.
I've walked on the sand in Baghdad,
Still don't have all of the answers I need.
But I guess I wanna know where she's been,
Before she judges and gestures to me,
'Cause she don't like my sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.

So I hope that lady in her mini-van,
Turns on her radio and hears this from me.
As she picks up her kids,
From their private school,
An' drives home safely on our city streets.
Or to the building where her church group meets:
Yeah, that's why I've got a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.

 

[GoldStarBrother]

Canteen Music Requests!
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This is a HIGH volume Ping List you might get as Many as a Hundred pings!!! If you would like to be added/removed from the Canteen Music Ping List, please FReepmail MoJo2001 or Kathy In Alaska

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Suitable For Ma and Kids:  Yes

Sidenote:  Hey Star Great Thread.. Just a Drive by posting to Say thanks to the Troops for there Service And the Freeps for there Support of the Troops..Thanks to yuo All..Have a GREAT week and Be SAFE...
 

*** Please ping laurenmarlowe to any song requests made on the thread. Thank you! ***

 

[StarCMC]

Ping

[trussell]

Hi all!

[tomkow6]

first?

[The Mayor]

November 7, 2005

The Lord Is My Rock

Read:
Psalm 18:1-3

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust. —Psalm 18:2

Bible In One Year: John 11-13

It turns out that we humans reason largely by means of our hearts and not by our heads. As French mathematician and theologian Blaise Pascal noted long ago, "The heart has reasons that reason does not know."

Poets, singers, storytellers, and artists have always known this. They use symbols and metaphors that speak to our hearts rather than to our minds. That's why their ideas penetrate where everything else has failed. And that's why we say, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Images remain in our minds when all else is forgotten.

David wrote, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress, . . . my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold" (Psalm 18:2). He was thinking of physical elements that convey spiritual realities. Each picture expresses a deeper thought, linking the visible world to the invisible realm of the Spirit. David doesn't wander into definition and explanation, for explanation can blunt imagination. Each picture is left hanging in our minds—images that evoke mystery, arouse our imagination, and deepen our understanding.

David wakes up what is hidden deep within us. It's good to think long thoughts about it. What does this mean to you: God is my rock, my fortress, my shield? —David Roper

O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way;
Eternal love, in Thee we rest,
Forever safe, forever blest. —Bonar

Faith bridges chasms that reason cannot fathom.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
God Our Father

[Soaring Feather]

[tomkow6]

Evenin, Mayor!

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, they're fighting for our Freedom.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic, for which it stands;
one nation UNDER GOD,
indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.

Prayers going up.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
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txradioguy previously reported to the FR Canteen from the field in Iraq.

[StarCMC]

FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!! FIRST!!

[The Mayor]

Wha's happenin Tom!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1516530/posts?page=301#301

There are still 39 cards for Walter Reed that have been paid for and need a sender. It is done by computer and a real card with real stamp gets delivered. If you would like to participate, it just takes a few minutes to choose a card and add a personal message.

Contact doug from upland - freeper@verizon.net

Please get classes and Scout troops to send their own homemade cards:

American Red Cross - Heaton Pavilion 3rd Floor Rm 3E05
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20307-5000

301 posted on 11/06/2005 4:53:58 PM PST by doug from upland

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1516530/posts?page=301#301

[HopeandGlory]

Godspeed USS Nassau!!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thanks Heckle & Jeckle !

[AZamericonnie]

Supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen at more than 1,000 places across the U. S. and around the world.

~Tribute to Our Troops~

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

FYI : Look in upper right corner of "My Comments" page.
Set it for "Brief" instead of Full.
You only will get title of thread and who pinged you.
No graphics will load.

[SandRat]

Click on the text below:
Anchors Aweigh!
USS Nassau (LHA 4)
- Formerly BOXER, formerly LEYTE GULF -

U.S. Navy Band’s Sea Chanters sing the Navy Hymn.

Prayer for the US Navy O eternal Lord, God, you alone spread out the heavens and rule the raging sea. Take into your most gracious protection our country's Navy and all who serve therein. Preserve them from the dangers of the sea and from the violence of the enemy, that they may be a safeguard unto the United States of America, and a security for such as sail upon the seas in peaceful and lawful missions. In serving you, O Lord, may our Sailors serve their country; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

[StarCMC]

I did it and it was very easy -- Doug did the hard stuff!!

[StarCMC]

Evening T!

Evening Tom!