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The
President of the United States
Takes Pleasure in Presenting
The Navy Cross
To
Brian
R. Chontosh
First Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps
For
Services as Set Forth in the Following
Citation:
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.
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