jumperconway 0 #1 May 11, 2004 Maybe you'd like to hear about something other than idiot Reservists and naked Iraqis. Maybe you'd like to hear about a real American, somebody who honored the uniform he wears. Meet Brian Chontosh. Churchville-Chili Central School class of 1991. Proud graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology. Husband and about-to-be father. First lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. And a genuine hero. The secretary of the Navy said so yesterday. At 29 Palms in California Brian Chontosh was presented with the Navy Cross, the second highest award for combat bravery the United States can bestow. That's a big deal. But you won't see it on the network news tonight, and all you read in Brian's hometown newspaper was two paragraphs of nothing. Instead, it was more blather about some mental defective MPs who acted like animals. The odd fact about the American media in this war is that it's not covering the American military. The most plugged-in nation in the world is receiving virtually no true information about what its warriors are doing. Oh, sure, there's a body count. We know how many Americans have fallen. And we see those same casket pictures day in and day out. And we're almost on a first-name basis with the pukes who abused the Iraqi prisoners. And we know all about improvised explosive devices and how we lost Fallujah and what Arab public-opinion polls say about us and how the world hates us. We get a non-stop feed of gloom and doom. But we don't hear about the heroes. The incredibly brave GIs who honorably do their duty. The ones our grandparents would have carried on their shoulders down Fifth Avenue. The ones we completely ignore. Like Brian Chontosh. 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 id 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 he 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. But that's probably not how he would tell it. He would probably merely say that his Marines were in trouble, and he got them out of trouble. Hoo-ah, and drive on. "By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, 1st Lt. Chontosh reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service." That's what the citation says. And that's what nobody will hear. That's what doesn't seem to be making the evening news. Accounts of American valor are dismissed by the press as propaganda, yet accounts of American difficulties are heralded as objectivity. It makes you wonder if the role of the media is to inform, or to depress - to report or to deride. To tell the truth, or to feed us lies. But I guess it doesn't matter. We're going to turn out all right. As long as men like Brian Chontosh wear our uniform. - by Bob Lonsberry © 2004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #2 May 11, 2004 Bless that boy and all Marines who went before and will come after. Amen.witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,150 #3 May 11, 2004 ***"Maybe you'd like to hear about something other than idiot Reservists and naked Iraqis. .... "That's what doesn't seem to be making the evening news. Accounts of American valor are dismissed by the press as propaganda, yet accounts of American difficulties are heralded as objectivity. It makes you wonder if the role of the media is to inform, or to depress - to report or to deride. To tell the truth, or to feed us lies." Quote Is he suggesting that the media fed us lies about the actions of the MPs? I could swear I heard Rumsfeld and Bush acknowledging that is was all true. Looks like a bit of conveniently timed face-saving by the Pentagon, served up by a sycophant.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jumperconway 0 #4 May 11, 2004 no i don't think that he implied that. Maybe you'd like to hear about something other than idiot Reservists and naked Iraqis. Maybe you'd like to hear about a real American, somebody who honored the uniform he wears. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Kennedy 0 #5 May 11, 2004 QuoteLooks like a bit of conveniently timed face-saving by the Pentagon, served up by a sycophant. Are you suggesting Chontosh doesn't deserve the Navy Cross?witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites PhillyKev 0 #6 May 11, 2004 QuoteQuoteLooks like a bit of conveniently timed face-saving by the Pentagon, served up by a sycophant. Are you suggesting Chontosh doesn't deserve the Navy Cross? Of course he does. Right up until he becomes a democratic presidential candidate. Then someone will accuse him of self inflicted wounds and find a bunch of people to say he was a bad soldier. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites billvon 3,120 #7 May 11, 2004 Met a real US hero a while back. Mark, a sometime TM at Otay, got back from Afghanistan with a big hole in his leg. He had been on patrol, he said, and was shot by a sniper. "Did you get him?" someone asked him. "No, we managed to capture them without killing them. It turned out to be a 13 year old girl and a few others." As he said this his leg was propped up on the desk, where skin grafts covered a hole about two inches in diameter. He had been shot in the leg and still had the presence of mind to do what he had been ordered to do, which was to try to take prisoners alive. I respect him a great deal, both for his willingness to put his life on the line for what he believes in, and his refusal to let anger overwhelm his reason. It would have been easy for him and his fellow soldiers to open up on that clump of bushes. But because he didn't, he proved that we really _are_ better than the terrorists who don't value human life as much as we do. I am glad we have such people serving in our military; they are representatives of what we should all aspire to be. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Kennedy 0 #8 May 11, 2004 QuoteOf course he does. Right up until he becomes a democratic presidential candidate. Then someone will accuse him of self inflicted wounds and find a bunch of people to say he was a bad soldier. Kev, that only works if he comes home, gets involved in the most radical anti-war demonstrations, throws all his medals over the white house fence, claims he never threw anything, then claims he threw someone elses, then claims he only threw the ribbons as a sybolic gesture, then 30 years later "proudly" displays the medals he didn't throw on his office wall while running for the democratic nomination.witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites markd_nscr986 0 #9 May 11, 2004 Navy Cross sounds kind of light.........I think perhaps a CMOH would have been more appropriate.And yes the biased media will breathe nary a word about it!Marc SCR 6046 SCS 3004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites markd_nscr986 0 #10 May 11, 2004 Touche' kennedyMarc SCR 6046 SCS 3004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites tunaplanet 0 #11 May 11, 2004 QuoteA Real Hero SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE NEWS It did make the news. Quite a bit of coverage I saw on it. Oh, and by the way...I'm not sure if you ever served or not (by your posts I would say no) but receiving medals is not about media coverage. I know many people including a vast majority of those on this website think if it doesn't make front-page headlines it isn't important. Being awarded medals shouldn't be anyone's business but the recepiant in my humble opinion. I have been awarded several medals in my naval career and next to never have I ever discussed it with anyone. Medals are about the act itself. Wether it receives media coverage or not is pointless. Forty-two Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Kennedy 0 #12 May 11, 2004 You could make the case that the news is constantly telling us how many purple hearts have gone out. How about telling us how many CMOHs, Navy Crosses, Silver or Bronze Stars with the V, etc. have gone out. (I'm sure a few recommendations for the CMOH have been put in, I wonder in congress has considered any of them yet)witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites tunaplanet 0 #13 May 11, 2004 Awarding the MOH is a long process that is investigated quite thoroughly. It isn't unusual for it to take quite some time before one is presented. Details of the investigation are usually kept fairly quiet. Forty-two Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites livendive 8 #14 May 11, 2004 Quote"No, we managed to capture them without killing them. It turned out to be a 13 year old girl and a few others." As he said this his leg was propped up on the desk, where skin grafts covered a hole about two inches in diameter. He had been shot in the leg and still had the presence of mind to do what he had been ordered to do, which was to try to take prisoners alive. I respect him a great deal, both for his willingness to put his life on the line for what he believes in, and his refusal to let anger overwhelm his reason. It would have been easy for him and his fellow soldiers to open up on that clump of bushes. But because he didn't, he proved that we really _are_ better than the terrorists who don't value human life as much as we do. I am glad we have such people serving in our military; they are representatives of what we should all aspire to be. Fucking sweet. That man deserves an awful lot of free beers and all our thanks. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Guest #15 May 12, 2004 QuoteMet a real US hero a while back. Mark, a sometime TM at Otay, got back from Afghanistan with a big hole in his leg. He had been on patrol, he said, and was shot by a sniper. "Did you get him?" someone asked him. "No, we managed to capture them without killing them. It turned out to be a 13 year old girl and a few others." As he said this his leg was propped up on the desk, where skin grafts covered a hole about two inches in diameter. He had been shot in the leg and still had the presence of mind to do what he had been ordered to do, which was to try to take prisoners alive. I respect him a great deal, both for his willingness to put his life on the line for what he believes in, and his refusal to let anger overwhelm his reason. It would have been easy for him and his fellow soldiers to open up on that clump of bushes. But because he didn't, he proved that we really _are_ better than the terrorists who don't value human life as much as we do. I am glad we have such people serving in our military; they are representatives of what we should all aspire to be. Well said, William. mh ."The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kallend 2,150 #16 May 12, 2004 QuoteQuoteLooks like a bit of conveniently timed face-saving by the Pentagon, served up by a sycophant. Are you suggesting Chontosh doesn't deserve the Navy Cross? I expect he deserves it every bit as much as John Kerry deserves a Silver Star. I was criticizing the sycophant who wrote the article. That was pretty clear from my entire comment.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites flyhi 24 #17 May 12, 2004 QuoteHow about telling us how many CMOHs, Navy Crosses, Silver or Bronze Stars with the V, etc. have gone out. Officially, it's the Medal of Honor (of which there are three, Army, Navy, Air Force), not the Congressional Medal of Honor. I have heard the only people who think it is are Congressmen/women.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites nightjumps 1 #18 May 13, 2004 QuoteThe Medal is awarded "in the name of the Congress of the United States," and for this reason, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor. http://www.mdw.army.mil/fs-h15.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
jumperconway 0 #4 May 11, 2004 no i don't think that he implied that. Maybe you'd like to hear about something other than idiot Reservists and naked Iraqis. Maybe you'd like to hear about a real American, somebody who honored the uniform he wears. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #5 May 11, 2004 QuoteLooks like a bit of conveniently timed face-saving by the Pentagon, served up by a sycophant. Are you suggesting Chontosh doesn't deserve the Navy Cross?witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #6 May 11, 2004 QuoteQuoteLooks like a bit of conveniently timed face-saving by the Pentagon, served up by a sycophant. Are you suggesting Chontosh doesn't deserve the Navy Cross? Of course he does. Right up until he becomes a democratic presidential candidate. Then someone will accuse him of self inflicted wounds and find a bunch of people to say he was a bad soldier. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #7 May 11, 2004 Met a real US hero a while back. Mark, a sometime TM at Otay, got back from Afghanistan with a big hole in his leg. He had been on patrol, he said, and was shot by a sniper. "Did you get him?" someone asked him. "No, we managed to capture them without killing them. It turned out to be a 13 year old girl and a few others." As he said this his leg was propped up on the desk, where skin grafts covered a hole about two inches in diameter. He had been shot in the leg and still had the presence of mind to do what he had been ordered to do, which was to try to take prisoners alive. I respect him a great deal, both for his willingness to put his life on the line for what he believes in, and his refusal to let anger overwhelm his reason. It would have been easy for him and his fellow soldiers to open up on that clump of bushes. But because he didn't, he proved that we really _are_ better than the terrorists who don't value human life as much as we do. I am glad we have such people serving in our military; they are representatives of what we should all aspire to be. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #8 May 11, 2004 QuoteOf course he does. Right up until he becomes a democratic presidential candidate. Then someone will accuse him of self inflicted wounds and find a bunch of people to say he was a bad soldier. Kev, that only works if he comes home, gets involved in the most radical anti-war demonstrations, throws all his medals over the white house fence, claims he never threw anything, then claims he threw someone elses, then claims he only threw the ribbons as a sybolic gesture, then 30 years later "proudly" displays the medals he didn't throw on his office wall while running for the democratic nomination.witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markd_nscr986 0 #9 May 11, 2004 Navy Cross sounds kind of light.........I think perhaps a CMOH would have been more appropriate.And yes the biased media will breathe nary a word about it!Marc SCR 6046 SCS 3004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markd_nscr986 0 #10 May 11, 2004 Touche' kennedyMarc SCR 6046 SCS 3004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunaplanet 0 #11 May 11, 2004 QuoteA Real Hero SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE NEWS It did make the news. Quite a bit of coverage I saw on it. Oh, and by the way...I'm not sure if you ever served or not (by your posts I would say no) but receiving medals is not about media coverage. I know many people including a vast majority of those on this website think if it doesn't make front-page headlines it isn't important. Being awarded medals shouldn't be anyone's business but the recepiant in my humble opinion. I have been awarded several medals in my naval career and next to never have I ever discussed it with anyone. Medals are about the act itself. Wether it receives media coverage or not is pointless. Forty-two Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #12 May 11, 2004 You could make the case that the news is constantly telling us how many purple hearts have gone out. How about telling us how many CMOHs, Navy Crosses, Silver or Bronze Stars with the V, etc. have gone out. (I'm sure a few recommendations for the CMOH have been put in, I wonder in congress has considered any of them yet)witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunaplanet 0 #13 May 11, 2004 Awarding the MOH is a long process that is investigated quite thoroughly. It isn't unusual for it to take quite some time before one is presented. Details of the investigation are usually kept fairly quiet. Forty-two Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #14 May 11, 2004 Quote"No, we managed to capture them without killing them. It turned out to be a 13 year old girl and a few others." As he said this his leg was propped up on the desk, where skin grafts covered a hole about two inches in diameter. He had been shot in the leg and still had the presence of mind to do what he had been ordered to do, which was to try to take prisoners alive. I respect him a great deal, both for his willingness to put his life on the line for what he believes in, and his refusal to let anger overwhelm his reason. It would have been easy for him and his fellow soldiers to open up on that clump of bushes. But because he didn't, he proved that we really _are_ better than the terrorists who don't value human life as much as we do. I am glad we have such people serving in our military; they are representatives of what we should all aspire to be. Fucking sweet. That man deserves an awful lot of free beers and all our thanks. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest #15 May 12, 2004 QuoteMet a real US hero a while back. Mark, a sometime TM at Otay, got back from Afghanistan with a big hole in his leg. He had been on patrol, he said, and was shot by a sniper. "Did you get him?" someone asked him. "No, we managed to capture them without killing them. It turned out to be a 13 year old girl and a few others." As he said this his leg was propped up on the desk, where skin grafts covered a hole about two inches in diameter. He had been shot in the leg and still had the presence of mind to do what he had been ordered to do, which was to try to take prisoners alive. I respect him a great deal, both for his willingness to put his life on the line for what he believes in, and his refusal to let anger overwhelm his reason. It would have been easy for him and his fellow soldiers to open up on that clump of bushes. But because he didn't, he proved that we really _are_ better than the terrorists who don't value human life as much as we do. I am glad we have such people serving in our military; they are representatives of what we should all aspire to be. Well said, William. mh ."The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,150 #16 May 12, 2004 QuoteQuoteLooks like a bit of conveniently timed face-saving by the Pentagon, served up by a sycophant. Are you suggesting Chontosh doesn't deserve the Navy Cross? I expect he deserves it every bit as much as John Kerry deserves a Silver Star. I was criticizing the sycophant who wrote the article. That was pretty clear from my entire comment.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyhi 24 #17 May 12, 2004 QuoteHow about telling us how many CMOHs, Navy Crosses, Silver or Bronze Stars with the V, etc. have gone out. Officially, it's the Medal of Honor (of which there are three, Army, Navy, Air Force), not the Congressional Medal of Honor. I have heard the only people who think it is are Congressmen/women.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nightjumps 1 #18 May 13, 2004 QuoteThe Medal is awarded "in the name of the Congress of the United States," and for this reason, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor. http://www.mdw.army.mil/fs-h15.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
