On March 25, 2003 1stLt. Brian Chontosh (2and from the right) was serving as a 3/5 CAAT platoon commander leading his Marines on Highway 1 towards Diwaniyah, Iraq as part of the main invasion force during OIF.
At one point, the platoon drove right into a deadly ambush and came under heavy enemy MG, mortar and RPG fire.
Immediately, Chontosh ordered his humvee driver to push through the kill zone and towards the incoming fire, allowing his 50 cal gunner to silence one MG position.
Under heavy fire, he then exited the vehicle, ordered 2 Marines from his humvee to follow him near a trench and began to kill the enemy with his M16 and 9mm pistol. When his rifle jammed, he picked up an AK47, killing more of the enemy.
With his ammunition expanded, he picked up another AK and an RPG launcher and continued his rampage.
At the end, he had cleared over 200 meters of the enemy trench, killing more than 20 enemy soldiers and wounding several others.
While on the move, he encountered an enemy soldier who had been playing dead during the furious charge and was now attempting to ready a grenade.
Chontosh, now completely out of ammunition, realized the place where he was standing was where his M16 initially jammed. Finding a couple unused rounds on the ground, he loaded one into his rifle and killed the enemy.
For his actions, he would receive the Navy Cross, the gunner a NAM with V, and the other 2 Marines Silver Stars.
“They saved my life, multiple times that day, during the ambush. That’s all them. If it wasn’t for them, I would be the lieutenant who would be reported as ... a case of what not to do.” #leader #marines #stayzero #zerofoxtrot