SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE NEWS

[SchoolGirlHeart]

Received in e-mail this morning. Source unknown, but truth, it is.


Maybe you'd like to hear about something other than idiot MPs 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 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.

[ph4ever]

GREAT STORY!!! Thanks g/f!!!!

[MelliJellyBean]

that IS a great story. Great to hear about the good things. I can't stand listening to the news anymore

[phjrsaunt]

Way to go, Brian!

[Caribbean Soul Man]

WOW! that article gave me chills. thanks for sharing a story with us that truly represents our young men and women and not a handful of deviants.

[Caribbean Soul Man]

i found this photo of Brian's presentation ceremony to accompany your story - SEMPER FI

[pair8head]

There are a lot of great comments about it here where the original is.

http://www.lonsberry.com/writings.cfm?story=1400&go=4

[12vmanRick]

Looks like 1lt made Cptn : ) YOU GO MARINE!!!! SEMPER FI .. my dad is retired. Thanks Brian and ALL you men/women for your service!!!

[chalksoperations]

Too many stories go untold. Only to be read in the future by young recruits on the halls of a training facility signifying who the building was named after. Or on some hunk of granite in a city park, only to be seen on Veterans Day or Memorial Day when mothers and fathers take the time to read the plaque under the flag with their children.

Thank you Brian. 4 months from now at this years Navy Ball I will toast you for keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Hoo-aah

[parrotsgirl]

awesome story, thanks for sharing

[DrunkenIrish]

*****.

While I think it's unfortunate that Brian’s story (and plenty of other stories) aren't getting enough press, I don't think the media are derelict in covering the torture stories. As far as The most plugged-in nation in the world is receiving virtually no true information about what its warriors are doing., I find that an ironic statement. I think the media is doing a decent job of covering this stuff, and yes, an especially good job of covering the torture. But that stuff needs covering, because of what it will cause, and especially in light of this horrible mess. What those in the prison did undermined everything the other troops have worked, and died, for. And while that's unfortunate, that's a fact. And the media isn't to blame for the weakening of the American position, the conduct of American military is.

[tommcat327]

of course you wont hear that in the news.since when would facts or the truth have anything to do with the media?come on

[Key Lime Lee]

I gotta agree that there are probably 1000 stories a day of bravery and courage, but I have to disagree with the article's anti-media slant.

Media looks for stories with the broadest impact. The tortures have global implications. The number of soldiers dead is of national interest in light of the debate over national policy. One soldier's bravery in a firefight is only going to play as a local story.

Pat Tillman's death got national coverage - in a positive way. But he was a national figure with a certain name recognition.

To the media, it's just business.

Frankly I'm sure there are soldiers out there better exemplifying the American spirit by rebuilding Iraqi schools. But I doubt that will ever get coverage since it's not nearly as interesting as even a story about a firefight.

But then we as a nation get the kinds of stories we demand. As long as Americans buy papers like USA Today and watch shows like Jerry Springer in large numbers we'll get shitty mainstream media.

[tommcat327]

But then we as a nation get the kinds of stories we demand. As long as Americans buy papers like USA Today and watch shows like Jerry Springer in large numbers we'll get shitty mainstream media.

well lee,i'm doing my part by not watching the news or buying the paper ever.
but i do still think a large part of it is that people in journalism have no morals or ethics for the most part.just my opinion of them

[phwtb]

But then we as a nation get the kinds of stories we demand. As long as Americans buy papers like USA Today and watch shows like Jerry Springer in large numbers we'll get shitty mainstream media.

well lee,i'm doing my part by not watching the news or buying the paper ever.
but i do still think a large part of it is that people in journalism have no morals or ethics for the most part.just my opinion of them

Perhaps, if you look at the whole picture of what the media reports you will see a serious support for small interest groups, (some of whom actually have good reason to do what they do) or a deliberate initiative on the part of the media in simply stirring up trouble for their ratings.

It is my opinion, that until we return to the rights of majority, we shall forever be banned from those "important issues" that NEED fixing because all we are going to be bombarded with, is what some special interest group is bit**ing about ...

I personally agree with your statement of no morals or ethics in the media, as well as a few others. I have always felt that most are lacking in both.

I am not condemning them for the coverage of the guards and idiots that did what they did to the prisoners, those people need to be put in front of a firing squad in my opinion, forget making me pay for their meals and TV cable for the next 50 years, but referring to other things on the home front. For example, the PETA model who stated " a corpse is a corpse" when asked why the use of the rape and murder of 20 women and a pig were combined in the same billboard ad, or the animal rights people who are telling us we can't control the wolf and bear population up here because it offends THEM wayyyy down yonder. I will gladly gather up some of these black bears and put them in their back yard so their children can go outside to play and they can try to have an outdoor cookout.... but I guess our children and hamburgers don't count.. I mean, how stupid to think WE should say what WE shall do in OUR state... hummm...

I read an article the other day of some hobby prospectors, in Oregon I think, are being sued because they "disturbed the land" and some environmentalist lawyer group decided that they needed to be fined $27,000.00. Why? They won't spend that money to fix it... it will go into the pockets of all those attorneys that formed this activist group anyway. So, why let a handful tell hundreds what they can do? I just don't understand it.. never will...

just my 2 cents worth....

[CUparrot]

But then we as a nation get the kinds of stories we demand. As long as Americans buy papers like USA Today and watch shows like Jerry Springer in large numbers we'll get shitty mainstream media.

You hit the nail right on the head, IMO, Lee.

I work with media (on a local level, mostly) day in and day out. The media is a business, just like any other business--it is all about ratings or selling newspapers. They are always going to look for the stories that will sell their papers and get people to watch their broadcasts. In my office, we say that reporters are looking for the 6 "Cs"--crime, catastrophe, crisis, corruption, conflict or color (which means human interest). Notice--5 of the 6 are negative.

I do think that the torture case is one that they have to cover--it is an important international issue. But do they have to keep showing the photos? We've all seen them by now--enough already with those.

[tommcat327]

or the animal rights people who are telling us we can't control the wolf and bear population up here because it offends THEM wayyyy down yonder. I will gladly gather up some of these black bears and put them in their back yard so their children can go outside to play and they can try to have an outdoor cookout.... but I guess our children and hamburgers don't count.. I mean, how stupid to think WE should say what WE shall do in OUR state... hummm...

I'M A STRONG SUPPORTER OF OUR RIGHT TO KEEP AND ARM BEARS

[phwtb]

or the animal rights people who are telling us we can't control the wolf and bear population up here because it offends THEM wayyyy down yonder. I will gladly gather up some of these black bears and put them in their back yard so their children can go outside to play and they can try to have an outdoor cookout.... but I guess our children and hamburgers don't count.. I mean, how stupid to think WE should say what WE shall do in OUR state... hummm...

I'M A STRONG SUPPORTER OF OUR RIGHT TO KEEP AND ARM BEARS

silly....thats cause you don't live with em... thanks for proving my point...

[tommcat327]

or the animal rights people who are telling us we can't control the wolf and bear population up here because it offends THEM wayyyy down yonder. I will gladly gather up some of these black bears and put them in their back yard so their children can go outside to play and they can try to have an outdoor cookout.... but I guess our children and hamburgers don't count.. I mean, how stupid to think WE should say what WE shall do in OUR state... hummm...

I'M A STRONG SUPPORTER OF OUR RIGHT TO KEEP AND ARM BEARS

silly....thats cause you don't live with em... thanks for proving my point...

WRONG!WE HAVE PLENTY OF THEM.NOT AS MANY AS MAINE,VT AND NH BUT A GROWING NUMBER.I JUST DONT CARE.THE ONLY PEOPLE THEY SEEM TO BOTHER AROUND HERE ARE RICH ANTI-GUN,ANTI-HUNTING WING NUTS WHO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COOL TO KNOCK DOWN A FOREST FOR THEIR MILLION SQUARE FOOT HOME.I ROOT FOR THE BEARS IN CASES LIKE THAT.
BTW,I AM AN AVID HUNTER AND OUTDOORSMAN SO DONT PUT ME IN ONE OF THOSE GREENIE GROUPS.I JUST LIKE BEARS MORE THAN I LIKE MOST PEOPLE

[rednekkPH]

or the animal rights people who are telling us we can't control the wolf and bear population up here because it offends THEM wayyyy down yonder.

Ya know, I would GLADLY give up hunting game animals if my state would open up a PETA season.