Genuine Hero

Triathlon Forum
1

True story, author unknown, but I’d be proud to shake the author’s or Brian Chontosh’s hand.

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 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.

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.

2

Too often we mistake negativity for objectivity.

I’m an advocate for an objective press. But if the press coverage is objective there is no good in the world, and I don’t believe that everything has or is going to hell in an handbasket.

The other day in my Classical Political Theory class we were discussing the prisoner abuse that has occurred. Someone asked if the knowledge of this abuse isn’t the product of the information age, and that abuses like this haven’t always occurred in every war. I’d venture that abuse like this is nothing new, we just know about it know. A public who has never been trained to deal with war is forced right into its ugliest side. Reality hasn’t changed; war has always been ugly.

What has changed is that we no longer have parades. The information age has killed our heroes. The heroes probably never really existed, but we thought that they did.

But we need heroes. We can’t think that the flawed individual is the best there is. We want someone to look up to, admire.

Give us back our ignorance. Give us back our heroes. Or at least glorify the for real heroics that occur every day.

The criticism of the modern media lost its value when it ceased to be constructive. Filling the front page with bad while ignoring the good is disgusting.

3

Great story… mostly the same stuff here:

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/200456162723

5

Thanks for sharing. A great, powerful story that we don’t hear enough but that is taking place every day over there. It’s a sad commentary that so many people enjoy hearing all the negative.

I have a nephew just getting ready to graduate from BUDS. I feel comfortable and proud knowing we have men like him and the one in your story fighting for us.

7

Plain Bill,

Hoo-ah!

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. It and you are so right! This will never make it to the mainstream media. Too inspiring.

Just reminds you of what modest and great soldiers are serving this country with pride and distinction. And the “fair” and “accurate” picture the media tries to paint. Their motto: “Good news ain’t news, only bad news sells”. One needs to realize that one of the media’s primary roles seems to be to aid and abet our enemies, but only in the interest of seeking the “truth”.

This definitely deserves another ride together with a cold one after. I’ll buy. Thanks again.

8

Thanks for posting that story. To give you an idea how bad the media is getting, and the stories that they are reporting, check this out:

The Boston Globe(the largest newspaper in Boston), in its glee to report on prisoner abuses, “accidentally” printed several explicit pornographic photos on Wednesday. For the whole story, Read This!

The synopsis: The Globe reporters went to a press conference in which a Boston City Councilor displayed images purported to be evidence that US troops were raping female Iraqis. (You might be asking yourself why a Citiy Councilor would be “investigating” Iraqi prisoner abuses. Don’t let yourself be distracted. It’s an election year.) The photos had not been verified, and some news outfits refused to report on them until they could be verified. The Globe, however, not wanting to miss out on anything, decided to print the photos, without verifying their authenticity, in order to let the public form their own opinions.

The photos were images of four guys in some sort of uniform gang-banging a peasant-looking woman. I guess The Globe didn’t have a problem with that. Unfortunately, the photos were not of US abuses of Iraqis. They were pictures taken from a Hungarian porno movie, and were posted on an American web site(where they were advertised as porn.) The porn site removed the images when it found out that the images were being used for “un-American purposes.” At least someone has a strong moral compass around here.

My biggest problem with all this is that the media, under that banner of freedom of the press, has completely sold out its journalistic integrity in order to sell newspapers, and they no longer care about the consequences of the blatant lies that they publish. And the memebrs of the public don’t care as long as the lies support their particular political views.

9

Quote: “My biggest problem with all this is that the media, under that banner of freedom of the press, has completely sold out its journalistic integrity in order to sell newspapers, and they no longer care about the consequences of the blatant lies that they publish. And the memebrs of the public don’t care as long as the lies support their particular political views.”

jmorrissey,

You’re right on with the Boston Globe story.

Although there is a chorus of liberals and Democrats echoing cries for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld because he was the “one in charge” and it was on his watch when the abuses took place in the prison, do you really think those same liberals and Democrats will raise a similar and loud cry for the resignation of the publisher of the Boston Globe? Hell no! In their minds the publisher of the Boston Globe is not responsible. It was just someone in a lower level position who made mistakes by not checking his sources, etc. It wasn’t the responsibility of the man in charge during whose watch the incident took place.

Does the office holder in the House or the Senate resign when improprieties are discovered to have taken place in their House or Senate offices. Hell no! The office holder blames some underling, hangs them out to dry and moves on claiming they are responsible and have done the right thing.

By the same logic and example, why should Rumsfeld resign?

I’m sorry. I forgot. Rumsfeld is a Republican in power and it is predominately the liberals and Democrats who wish they were in power who are insisting that Rumsfeld resign.

10

The sad truth of your post is born out of how few reply’s have been made to you. Instead of a thread of of 100 reply’s as some of these topics,you post a true story of heroism,and not much traffic…sad Kenney USMC 1978-1982

11

I may be confused on the intent of your reply. I understand the point,however objectivity would also mean balance which seems to be missing. Yes the info age means things are being reported that were not before. Also being reported even moreis our disdain for what happened. Though I seen reported very often that Isalam is not being represented by the execution of Nick Berg…I have not hear ANY Islamic group condening it. As far as your quote of “The heroes probably never really existed, but we thought that they did.” Is that negative or objective? Do you really beleive that?..Both sides of this war are capable of evil. How we police ourselves to that eveil is what makes a difference…With that said,to be objective,we need to report the “good” just as aggresively,…unless sales are more important…Kenney

12

“not much traffic…”

Or maybe we’re all finally getting tired of these OT posts.

14

Kenney,
I’m sorry that my post was unclear.

What I meant to say is that the twenty four hour media scrutiny afforded to our leaders has effectively destroyed any illusion that they are perfect, and in many cases, any better than you or me.

In the past we did not have this sort of scrutiny. The relative isolation, the front and back stages of leaders’ lives, provided for a façade of heroism. They were able to project their strengths publicly and hide their weaknesses. As such, all we saw were their strengths and their heroics. They became sort of superhuman role models who did not only perform isolated acts of heroism, but lived their whole lives as heroes. This was never reality, but it was perceived as reality.

Our modern information age has prevented the public from perceiving anyone as a superhuman role model. I’m not sure that this is good for us. Maybe it’s only indicative of the trend we began over two thousand years ago by killing the only person who lived His whole life as a hero. It is important for us to believe that there is something better than us, that purity exists, that there really are heroes, not just acts of heroism.

Caleb

15

Ah this I agree with. kind of like the old soppy movies,great entertainment but not of reality. Good for aspiring ideals but not with dealing reality. A disconnect,that sometimes was necesarry. As far as the only hereo living 2000 yrs ago…Yes we agree. He is my God. About your name Caleb…Something to think about. The only two who got into the promised land(of the origanal troop) was Joshua(savior) and Caleb(hebrew definition,diligent follower)May we both be such.

16

Quoting jmorrissey: “My biggest problem with all this is that the media, under that banner of freedom of the press, has completely sold out its journalistic integrity in order to sell newspapers, and they no longer care about the consequences of the blatant lies that they publish. And the memebrs of the public don’t care as long as the lies support their particular political views.”

Quoting Wants2rideFast: “Although there is a chorus of liberals and Democrats echoing cries for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld because he was the “one in charge” and it was on his watch when the abuses took place in the prison, do you really think those same liberals and Democrats will raise a similar and loud cry for the resignation of the publisher of the Boston Globe? Hell no! In their minds the publisher of the Boston Globe is not responsible. It was just someone in a lower level position who made mistakes by not checking his sources, etc. It wasn’t the responsibility of the man in charge during whose watch the incident took place.”

In the UK, The editor of the Daily Mirror WAS sacked for publishing fake photos. In the UK the journalists are held to the same standards that they hold policiticans. The heads of the BBC also were forced to resign when one of their reporters said the government had embelished the report used to justified the British going into Iraq.

Links: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3716151.stm

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=14242617%26method=full%26siteid=50143%26headline=editor-steps-down-name_page.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3441845.stm

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Kenney USMC 1978-1982

Just curious, Kenney - Where were you stationed? I was in the Corps during those same years. I was at PI, Quantico, Lejeune, then did 2 Med cruises with the 24th MAU.

18

I was with MATCU 18,and 38. Iwakuni Japan,Tustin(was known as LTA)and an instructer at NAS Memephis(YUK)

19

“I was with MATCU 18,and 38. Iwakuni Japan,Tustin(was known as LTA)and an instructer at NAS Memephis(YUK)”

Tustin, as in Tustin, California?

I lived in Tustin, Ca 1979-82. I used to do my fast runs on a road running along the (outside) north edge of the helicopter base, often times in the dark during the winter months. It was downright heart thumping to have three Ch-53s (I believe) come thumping overhead out of the dark about 75 feet off the deck on final approach for landing.

Also, in 1980, I did the El Toro Marine Corp marathon, which went through one of the blimp hangars.

20

And he killed them all.

How inspiring.

Charging into a nation that posed no threat to our own, Brian didn’t hesitate for second to kill dozens people who grew up there.

I’m so proud.

21

davet,

The editor, I believe, is the next person up the chain from the reporters/journalists/photographers.

This would again support my contention that the cry for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld as the ultimate man in charge on whose watch the abuses took place are not similarly invoked in other situations of the breakdown of standard acceptable practices and procedures. Were this the case, the publisher of the Daily Mirror would have been required to resign, not just the editor.

As for the heads of the BBC, this should mean the Vice President of News Operations. By your post, I do not believe you meant a person this high up in the management of the BBC but rather an editor here as well or perhaps a news director.

There is so much hatred of George Bush and his administration by many who have lost their political influence as a result of the last Presidential election that those who are consumed by this level of hatred are blinded to the inconsistencies of their positions, their justice and their morality. They are so desperate to reverse the current political power structure they have become blinded to their own desperation… They do not hold themselves to the same standards that they are trying to hold George Bush and his administration to. They will stoop to any level in their attempts to accomplish their goal, to get George Bush and his administration out of Office and power. To them, the end justifies any means.

If for some reason, Donald Rumsfeld did ultimately resign, then these same people would immediately begin to cry for the resignation of George Bush as President for the same reasons. Their logic would follow as George Bush is ultimately in charge as Commander in Chief and the abuses took place on his watch.

22

Hi Ben,

In the BBC it was the Director General and the Chairperson who resigned - this is taking responsibility at the highest level.
The BBC prides itself on journalist integrity and so felt this was the appropriate course of action.

The Editor of a UK Newspaper is responsible for the publishing of the newspaper - think more like a chief operating officer. All of the Senior Editors/journalists etc work for them.

H didn’t actually resign - the exact wording is:

“The Board of Trinity Mirror has decided that it would be inappropriate for Piers Morgan to continue in his role as editor of the Daily Mirror and he will therefore be stepping down with immediate effect.”

ie - he was sacked.

So your contention is wrong - responsibility WAS taken in the BBC case and an appropriately high scalp was sacrificed in the Mirror, though you might consider this supports your case. Whether the same occurs in the US remains to be seen.

Personally I don’t expect politicans to achieve the same level of integrity that I hold myself to. I would like them to but don’t expect it. In general, people in power act to maximise the benefit to themselves while not pissing off the public too much. And I am someone who believes in the political process and exercise my vote whenever possible.

24

davet,

Sounds like those would be excellent examples for many in this country to follow, and not just the persons in political office. However, just as you, I don’t expect to see it happen anytime soon. Anyway, I’m not going to hold my breath until it does.