1LT Brian R. Chontosh -Navy Cross Citation

[Gunslinger]

For extraordinary heroism as Combined Anti-Armor Platoon Commander, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 25 March 2003. While leading his platoon north on Highway I toward Ad Diwaniyah, First Lieutenant Chontosh's platoon moved into a coordinated ambush of mortars, rocket propelled grenades, and automatic weapons fire. With coalition 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, First Lieutenant Chontosh ordered the driver to advance 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, First Lieutenant 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, First Lieutenant 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. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, First Lieutenant Chontosh reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

on another note:  There have been over 208 Silver Stars for combat operations in Iraq and Afgahnistan



EDIT:  I ran accross this blog last week.  This guy spent over 7 months in Iraq as an independent journalist.  This is a photo journal of The Punisher's Ball A very intersting read.

[lazs2]

gutty guy..

If it had been a woman we would be seeing it in the news for the next 5 years and there would be three made for TV movies on it and you would be able to buy all sorts of products with her picture on em..  

lazs

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by lazs2
gutty guy..

If it had been a woman we would be seeing it in the news for the next 5 years and there would be three made for TV movies on it and you would be able to buy all sorts of products with her picture on em..  

lazs

Actually I just read about the first female soldier to get a silver star since WWII last week.  Didn't hear a peep of it in the news.....didn't think she was that "photogenic" maybe that had something to do with it.

ok it was a mere peep http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/16/AR2005061601551.html

[Dago]

Originally posted by Gunslinger
Actually I just read about the first female soldier to get a silver star since WWII last week.  Didn't hear a peep of it in the news.....didn't think she was that "photogenic" maybe that had something to do with it.

ok it was a mere peep http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/16/AR2005061601551.html

I remember hearing about it, and there was a thread about her.  She should have gotten some coverage on the news, she showed courage and acted in a brave manner to protect those she was responsible for.

dago

[Dinger]

She did get coverage -- and plenty of it. She was Army though, so you probly didn't hear of it Gun.

I'd gladly bear her children.

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by Dinger
She did get coverage -- and plenty of it. She was Army though, so you probly didn't hear of it Gun.

I'd gladly bear her children.

Don't you mean donate for her children?  Either way I hope I'm not sounding like I want to denegrade what she did, cause I don't, whe's a certified Hero just like the rest of them.

Anyone read this story bout The Punisher's Ball   It's about and Army unit that came back from the gulf and had a party.  Pretty cool if you ask me.  What a tough unit.

[lazs2]

guns... my point is that what she did seems more routine and "doing her job" probly 100 men do it and more and didn't get any medal... What did she actually do?   seems routine..

comapare that to what Chontosh did and tell me you don't see the difference... It is night and day.

lazs

[Gunslinger]

After insurgents hit the convoy with a barrage of fire from machine guns, AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, Hester "maneuvered her team through the kill zone into a flanking position where she assaulted a trench line with grenades and M203 rounds," according to the Army citation accompanying the Silver Star.

"She then cleared two trenches with her squad leader where she engaged and eliminated three AIF [anti-Iraqi forces] with her M4 rifle. Her actions saved the lives of numerous convoy members,"

Doesn't sound too routine to me.  Sounds to me like she looked down and found a sack between her legs for a split second and acted on it.

[Maverick]

Laz,

I suppose I'll piss you off by this but it needs to be said. It must have sounded routine to you as you have no clue what you are talking about in this situation. Now get off of your biggotry and recognize that in spite of your feelings about them, there are some exceptional people of all physical descriptions and both genders. The fact of the matter is that her actions were notable for what she accomplished not because of her gender.