« Frisbees over Fallujah | Main | Problem Solved »

May 10, 2004

An American Hero

When my son called today to wish me a happy Mother's Day, he mentioned that a Marine had been awarded the Navy Cross last week and the Commandant of the Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, visited his base (Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Training Center, Twentynine Palms, California) to personally award the medal. My son's description of Captain Brian R. Chontosh was that "he's one badass Marine".

Here's what Capt. Chontosh did:

It was a year ago on the march into Baghdad. Brian Chontosh was a platoon leader rolling up Highway 1 in a humvee.

When all hell broke loose.

Ambush city.

The young Marines were being cut to ribbons. Mortars, machine guns, rocket propelled grenades. And the kid out of Churchville was in charge. It was do or die and it was up to him.

So he moved to the side of his column, looking for a way to lead his men to safety. As he tried to poke a hole through the Iraqi line his humvee came under direct enemy machine gun fire.

It was fish in a barrel and the Marines were the fish.

And Brian Chontosh gave the order to attack. He told his driver to floor the humvee directly at the machine gun emplacement that was firing at them. And he had the guy on top with the .50 cal unload on them.

Within moments there were Iraqis slumped across the machine gun and Chontosh was still advancing, ordering his driver now to take the humvee directly into the Iraqi trench that was attacking his Marines. Over into the battlement the humvee went and out the door Brian Chontosh bailed, carrying an M16 and a Beretta and 228 years of Marine Corps pride.

And he ran down the trench.

With its mortars and riflemen, machineguns and grenadiers.

And he killed them all.

He fought with the M16 until it was out of ammo. Then he fought with the Beretta until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up a dead man's AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up another dead man's AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo.

At one point he even fired a discarded Iraqi RPG into an enemy cluster, sending attackers flying with its grenade explosion.

When he was done Brian Chontosh had cleared 200 yards of entrenched Iraqis from his platoon's flank. He had killed more than 20 and wounded at least as many more.

And Capt. Chontash wasn't the only one recognized last Thursday.

"They are the reflection of the Marine Corps type whose 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."

Thanks to Blackfive for the Lonsberry link. The excerpt posted above is only part of the story. Read the full article - it's time well spent.

Posted by Deb at May 10, 2004 01:19 AM

Comments

Is there any way we can pay tribute to Capt. Chondosh. Many of us would like to send our gratitude and best wishes to him.

Thanks.

Posted by: Meg McDermott at May 10, 2004 01:55 PM

God Bless everyone of you!!

You make us very proud to be Americans;for your honor and valor is what America is all about.
Thank you and ----------

SEMPER FI!

From a Marine Mom (Gulf War)

Posted by: Connie DeVries at May 12, 2004 09:43 AM

Incredible American and Marine. Thanks for this post!

Posted by: Steve at May 14, 2004 07:48 PM

Huu-hah!

Posted by: William at May 14, 2004 11:26 PM

Here we see difference between ordinary and unordinary men. He is true hero.

Posted by: Levan at October 24, 2004 09:35 AM