Marine Capt. Brian R. Chontosh Received The Navy Cross Medal

MtnGoat · 04-25-2006, 10:00

Again in keeping with trying to bring to you positive stories from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan I had this link sent to me. So I looked it up to find it out and found these.

The Story of 1st LT. Brian Chontosh a real American hero.

This site has a great story about 1st LT., now Captain, Brian Chontosh and his being awarded the Navy Cross; and how the MSM has ignored it. Even his own hometown newspaper does not give it proper respect.

And from an article in Marine Corp News:

Quote:

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

My question is, this happen back in 2004, I don't remember seeing anything on the National News services. Did anyone see this reported?

VG

Warrior-Mentor · 04-25-2006, 10:23

I remember it floating around as one of the spams that evryone forwards to their friends...don't remember it on the news.

**Eagle5US** · 04-25-2006, 10:30

This has been previously reported and posted here...still good to read about again though.

Eagle

**Airbornelawyer** · 04-25-2006, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtnGoat

Again in keeping with trying to bring to you positive stories from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan I had this link sent to me. So I looked it up to find it out and found these.

The Story of 1st LT. Brian Chontosh a real American hero.

This site has a great story about 1st LT., now Captain, Brian Chontosh and his being awarded the Navy Cross; and how the MSM has ignored it. Even his own hometown newspaper does not give it proper respect.

And from an article in Marine Corp News:

My question is, this happen back in 2004, I don't remember seeing anything on the National News services. Did anyone see this reported?

VG

I saw it reported, but I follow these things (I am working on a book on American heroes). San Diego newspapers usually report the Navy and Marine Corps press releases on these awards. Other major media don't generally seem to care.

A search of the New York Times archives gets no hits for Chontosh. A search for "Navy Cross" gives an August 7, 2005 article ("GLORY DAYS; Missing In Action: The War Heroes") wherein the author wonders why there is no "instantly recognizable war hero" today. I can't find the whole article, but I suspect "because your paper deems their stories not worth telling" isn't there.

By the way, there have been 11 Navy Crosses awarded for OEF and OIF so far - three to Navy men (two SEALs and one to a corpsman) and eight to Marines. There have been three Distinguished Service Crosses, all to ARSOF members.

**Airbornelawyer** · 04-25-2006, 10:36

And two Air Force Crosses, both to AFSOC personnel.

All the citations may be read here: http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/02_wot/index.html

**Roguish Lawyer** · 04-25-2006, 10:42

There was a thread on this a while back. I recall that NDD heard he went to blade . . .

MtnGoat · 04-25-2006, 10:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airbornelawyer

All the citations may be read here: http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/02_wot/index.html

Nice reading!! Good luck on the book.

**The Reaper** · 04-26-2006, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airbornelawyer

And two Air Force Crosses, both to AFSOC personnel.

All the citations may be read here: http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/02_wot/index.html

And an Army Medal of Honor.

TR

MtnGoat · 04-26-2006, 13:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

And an Army Medal of Honor.

TR

TR

I saw that and looked it up online. Didn't really fine anything on it, everyone of them were "military Driven" sites. I was really surprised on how that main stream News didn't report on this award. Well, at least I didn't find it anything till a USA Today on 3/30/2005. Don't remeber seeing it on the evening news.

My Bag.

**Airbornelawyer** · 04-26-2006, 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

And an Army Medal of Honor.

TR

And, for the Army as of February 28, 2006, 195 Silver Stars for OIF and 45 Silver Stars for OEF. I have the names to go with 35 of the OEF ones, but only about 80 of the OIF ones. Of those 35 OEF awards, 15 were to Special Forces and 11 were to Rangers, reflecting the greater role that unconventional operations are playing in Afghanistan.

As of March 2006, the USMC had awarded 51 Silver Stars for OIF and at least 1 for OEF (OEF numbers have not been updated since April 2005).

I have no idea about the Navy and Air Force statistics, but I know of a number of such awards, including several to NAVSOC and AFSOC personnel.

There is at least one soldier who has been decorated for valor three times. 1LT Karl E. Gregory of 2-2 IN, 1st Infantry Division, has received the Silver Star Medal, the Soldier's Medal (for noncombat heroism) and the Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device.