Liberal Utopia: 'I was just doing my job'

Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Enduring gratitude from this fellow citizen, too, who considers it a job well and faithfully done. (Hat tips: Misha I, Brian B, Blackfive.)

Rochester, N.Y. Marine, receives Navy Cross Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton Story Identification #: 200456162723 Story by Cpl. Jeremy Vought MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(May 6, 2004) -- Marine Capt. Brian R. Chontosh received the Navy Cross Medal from the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, during an awards ceremony Thursday at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Training Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. Three other Marines received medals for valor at the same ceremony. Chontosh, 29, from Rochester, N.Y., received the naval service's second highest award for extraordinary heroism while serving as Combined Anti-Armor Platoon Commander, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 25, 2003. [ full story ]

Bob Lonsberry, also of Rochester, has some biographical information as well as commentary and this quote from Capt. Chontosh's citation:

“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.”

Navy Cross

10 USC Sec. 6242. Navy cross (01/22/02)

The President may award a Navy cross of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a medal of honor -: (1) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;; (2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or; (3) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES, Subtitle C - Navy and Marine Corps, PART II - PERSONNEL, CHAPTER 567 - DECORATIONS AND AWARDS. (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 389; Pub. L. 88-77, Sec. 2(2), July 25, 1963, 77 Stat. 94.) Historical and Revision Notes: Source (U.S. Code) 34 U.S.C. 356. Feb. 4, 1919, ch. 14, Sec. 3, 40 Stat. 1056; renumbered Sec. 2 and amended Aug. 7, 1942, ch. 551, Sec. 1, 56 Stat. 743. The word "award" is substituted for the word "present" to cover the determination of the recipient as well as the actual presenting of the decoration. The words "but not in the name of Congress" are omitted, since a decoration is presented in the name of Congress only if the law so directs. The words "Navy or the Marine Corps" are substituted for the words "naval service of the United States" for clarity. To be eligible for the award, a person need not be a member of the naval service, but only serving in some capacity either with the Navy or with the Marine Corps. AMENDMENTS: 1963 - Pub. L. 88-77 enlarged the authority to award the Navy cross, which was limited to those cases in which persons distinguished themselves in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, to permit its award for extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a medal of honor, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.