Brian R. Chontosh
born 1975
Capt Brian Chontosh receives his Navy Cross from the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael Hagee
Place of birth	Rochester, New York
Allegiance	USMC
Rank	Captain
Unit	3rd Battalion, 5th Marines
Battles/wars	Operation Iraqi Freedom * 2003 invasion of Iraq * Operation Phantom Fury
Awards	Navy Cross Bronze Star with "V"

Captain Brian R. Chontosh (born 1975 in Rochester, New York) is a United States Marine Corps officer who was awarded the Navy Cross for his service during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. At the time he was the platoon commander for weapons platoon, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1396x2100, 1901 KB) http://www. ... The Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. ... The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps is the highest ranking officer of the United States Marine Corps and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reporting to the Secretary of the Navy but not to the Chief of Naval Operations. ... Michael W. Hagee General Michael W. Hagee, 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps, graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. ... Nickname: The Flour City, The Flower City, The Worlds Image Center Motto: Rochester: Made for Living Location of Rochester in New York State Country United States State New York County Monroe Mayor Robert Duffy Area    - City 37. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces to global crises. ... 3rd Battalion 5th Marines (3/5) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton, California consisting of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors. ... For other uses of the term, see Iraq war (disambiguation) The 2003 invasion of Iraq (also called the 2nd or 3rd Persian Gulf War) began on March 20, 2003, when forces belonging primarily to the United States and the United Kingdom invaded Iraq arguably without the explicit backing of the... Combatants Coalition Forces: United States United Kingdom Poland Australia South Korea Romania Spain Portugal Italy others. ... Combatants United States Iraqi Security Forces Iraqi insurgents Tawhid wal Jihad Commanders Maj. ... The Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... Nickname: The Flour City, The Flower City, The Worlds Image Center Motto: Rochester: Made for Living Location of Rochester in New York State Country United States State New York County Monroe Mayor Robert Duffy Area    - City 37. ... Official language(s) None Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces to global crises. ... The Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. ... Combatants Coalition Forces: United States United Kingdom Poland Australia South Korea Romania Spain Portugal Italy others. ... 3rd Battalion 5th Marines (3/5) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton, California consisting of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors. ... The 1st Marine Division is the oldest, largest (active duty), and most decorated division-sized unit in the United States Marine Corps representing a combat-ready force of more than 19,000 men and women. ...

On March 25, 2003, during an ambush while advancing upon Baghdad, Chontosh aggressively attacked an entrenched enemy position, resorting to using captured enemy weaponry when his M16 ran out of ammunition. He is reported to have killed at least 20 enemy soldiers during the incident. March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Baghdad ( translit: ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ... M16 or M-16 may be: M16 rifle M16 (connector) M16 (knife) M16 (pitrilysin family), a peptidase M16 plotting board M-16 scow Eagle Nebula, a Messier object and open cluster in the Serpens constellation John Bell Williams Airport (M16 IATA airport code), in Raymond, Mississippi NOTE: M16 is sometimes...

Chontosh returned to Iraq during the second half of 2004 as the commanding officer of India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. During this time his company took part in Operation Phantom Fury, the second assault on Fallujah in November of 2004. Of the 158 Marines he commanded, only 3 were killed in action and 25 were wounded. During this time his company was also the focus of a Fox News documentary titled Breaking Point:Company of Heroes. Combatants United States Iraqi Security Forces Iraqi insurgents Tawhid wal Jihad Commanders Maj. ... Fallujah skyline This article is about the city of Fallujah in Iraq. ... Fox News Channels slogan is We Report, You Decide The Fox News Channel is a U.S. cable and satellite news channel. ...

He is currently an instructor at the Infantry Officer Course at Marine Corps Base Quantico. He is married with one son. The Marine Corps Base Quantico, near Fredericksburg, Virginia, is one of the largest United States Marine Corps bases in the world. ...

There have been several news articles on the perceived lack of coverage that was awarded to this and other medal ceremonies. The controversy over the coverage or lack of coverage of Chontosh and several other soldiers is seen as the latest cultural clash between pro-war and anti-war political camps.^[1]

Navy Cross citation

Navy Cross

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. The 1st Marine Division is the oldest, largest (active duty), and most decorated division in the United States Marine Corps representing a combat-ready force of more than 19,000 men and women. ... Presumably a USA force ? // Lineage Activated November 8th, 1969 at Okinawa, Japan as the I Marine Expeditionary Force Redesignated August 18th, 1970 as the I Marine Amphibious Force Relocated in April 1971 to Camp Pendleton, California Redesignated February 5th, 1988 as the I Marine Expeditionary Force Recent Service Persian Gulf... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Seal The United States Department of the Navy was established by an Act of Congress on April 30, 1798, to provide administrative and technical support, and civilian leadership to the United States Navy and Marine Corps. ...

Honors

Chontosh, a 2000 graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) was honored as RIT's 2005 Outstanding Alumnus.^[2] Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a private higher education institute, emphasizing career preparation, located in the township of Henrietta, outside of Rochester, New York. ...

Honorary graduate of the United States Naval Academy Class of 2006. The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and is located in Annapolis, Maryland and Washington D.C. The Academy is often referred to simply as Annapolis although naval officers normally refer to it in...

On September 21, 2006, at the annual Keeper of the Flame dinner, Captain Chontosh was honored by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace for his actions in March 2003.^[3] September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer of the United States military, and the principal military advisor to the President of the United States. ... General Peter Pace (born November 5, 1945) is the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first U.S. Marine appointed to this position. ...

See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

• Navy Cross
• Operation Phantom Fury

Image File history File links USMC_logo. ... The Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. ... Combatants United States Iraqi Security Forces Iraqi insurgents Tawhid wal Jihad Commanders Maj. ...

Notes

1. ^ Breaking Point: The Battle of Fallujah. FOX News (February 25, 2005). Retrieved on 2006-01-30.
2. ^ RIT - University News. Retrieved on 2006-09-26.
3. ^ United States Marine Corps (Release # 0922-06-0728) (September 21, 2006). Pace honors service members for heroism. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-09-26.

February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A news release, press release or press statement is a written or recorded communication directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something claimed as having news value. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• Cpl. Jeremy Vought (May 6, 2004). Rochester, N.Y. Marine, receives Navy Cross. Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2006-09-26.

• Navy Cross citation for Brian Chontosh. HomeofHeroes.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-26.

May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Company of Heroes at Foxnews.com