Magyar News, 2004. szeptember-2005. augusztus (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-06-01 / 10. szám
A Hungarian name on the list of heroes MEET CAPTAIN BRIAN CHONTOSH Reading the papers and watching the television set brings us into areas in the world were action, most of the time severe actions are happening. Looking into the unfortunate situation in Iraq we learn about how many people were sacrafiesed, Americans, Iraqies, and also the insurgents. We also learn about some great progress our troops are making. There is one specific thing we don’t seem to get proper information on; where are the heroes? 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 (now Captain) in the United States Marine Corps.! And a genuine hero. The secretary of the Navy said so. 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. 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 of his humvee 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 Ml6 and a Beretta and 228 years of Marine Corps pride. And he ran down the trench. With its mortars and riflemen, machineguns and grenadiers. He killed them all. The man on the left is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, on the right is our heroe Captain Brian Chontosh He fought with the Ml6 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. 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 who will hear it? We are happy to run this article in the Magyar News. But for some reason that is not how the press in general handles it. It 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. Semper Fidelis We hear comments on the war going on, the purpose of it, hardships , trying to pass on the present and future responsibilities. We should see those who commit their life to their country and in the hardship of living up to their commitment never question its validity. They do the service to their country, to their camerades, and to the hope of a better future. 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 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. ANNOUNCEMENT On the 5th of December, 2004 a referendum took place in Hungary about the offering of dual citizenship to millions of Hungarians living under other countries’ occupation - “thanks” to the arrent treaty of Trianon in 1920. Hoping to help in achieving positive results, the Fairfield-based Magyar Studies of America, Inc. arranged and paid for an advertisement on the TV in Budapest. Our encouraging proposition was broadcast 6 times, just before the people went to vote. The Magyar Studies of America asked individuals, local and nearby organizations to help us meeting our expenses prior to the referendum. The statement of account is as follows: Expenses MTV S 1,467.70 Wire transfer fee $14.Total $1,481.70 Donations Individuals* $295.Hungarian CommunityClub, Wallingford $150.Magyar Védokar Mozgalom, Danbury $300.Magyar Studies of America, Inc. $736.70 Total $1,481.70 Balance - zero. * Details available at request. May God bless all of those caring about the welfare of Hungarians subjected to the might of apprehensive powers! Magyar Studies of America, Inc. Page 3
