Brian R. Chontosh | |
---|---|
Born | 1974 (age 49–50) Rochester, New York |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | February 1993 - October 2013 |
Rank | Major |
Unit | 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines |
Battles/wars | Operation Iraqi Freedom *2003 invasion of Iraq *Operation Phantom Fury |
Awards | Navy Cross Bronze Star x 2 with "V" |
Major Brian R. Chontosh (born 1974 in Rochester, New York) is a retired[citation needed] United States Marine Corps officer who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. At the time, he was a platoon commander for Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division.
On March 25, 2003, during an ambush while advancing upon Baghdad, Chontosh aggressively attacked an entrenched enemy position, resorting to using captured enemy weaponry when his M16 ran out of ammunition. He is reported to have killed at least 20 enemy soldiers during the incident.[1]
Chontosh returned to Iraq during the second half of 2004 as the company commander of India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. During this time his company took part in Operation Phantom Fury, the second assault on Fallujah in November 2004. Of the 158 Marines he commanded, 3 were killed in action and 25 were wounded. During this time his company was also the focus of a Fox News documentary titled Breaking Point: Company of Heroes.
He also served as the 8th Company Officer at the United States Naval Academy and the Officer Rep for the Naval Academy Women's Ice Hockey Team (2011-2013)
There have been some news articles on the perceived lack of coverage that was awarded to this and other medal ceremonies. The controversy over the coverage or lack of coverage of Chontosh and several other servicemen is seen by the conservative political and some media as the latest cultural clash between pro-military and anti-war political camps.[2]
On January 1, 2020, Brian Chontosh conceptualized and founded the Big Fish Foundation (BFF), an organization with a mission "to enhance Veteran’s lives by reconnecting them to fundamental principles of service in order to reemphasize accountability towards each other through shared common purpose in a campaign to improve psychological wellness, effectively manage post traumatic/combat stress, and prevent suicide." The Big Fish Foundation became an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2021. Each year, the BFF hosts its annual fundraiser at the Crooked Butterfly Ranch outside of Boulder, CO.