something that didn't make the news

[blackdog~ 0]

SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE NEWS

The poll question: Did this not make it on the news or get very much attention because of liberal media bias?

So, is this a result of liberal media bias? I never heard anything in the headlines about this damn fine marine who saved the lives of many young men under fire.

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

http://www.usmc.mil/marinel....hLR.jpg

Quote[/b] ]MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(May 6, 2004) -- Marine Capt. Brian R. Chontosh received the Navy Cross Medal from the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, during an awards ceremony Thursday at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Training Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Three other Marines received medals for valor at the same ceremony.

Chontosh, 29, from Rochester, N.Y. , received the naval service's second highest award for extraordinary heroism while serving as Combined Anti-Armor Platoon Commander, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 25, 2003. The Medal of Honor is the highest military award.

While leading his platoon north on Highway 1 toward Ad Diwaniyah, Chontosh's platoon moved into a coordinated ambush of mortars, rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapons fire. With coalitions tanks blocking the road ahead, he realized his platoon was caught in a kill zone.

He had his driver move the vehicle through a breach along his flank, where he was immediately taken under fire from an entrenched machine gun. Without hesitation, Chontosh ordered the driver to advanced directly at the enemy position enabling his .50 caliber machine gunner to silence the enemy.

He then directed his driver into the enemy trench, where he exited his vehicle and began to clear the trench with an M16A2 service rifle and 9 millimeter pistol. His ammunition depleted, Chontosh, with complete disregard for his safety, twice picked up discarded enemy rifles and continued his ferocious attack.

When a Marine following him found an enemy rocket propelled grenade launcher, Chontosh used it to destroy yet another group of enemy soldiers.

When his audacious attack ended, he had cleared over 200 meters of the enemy trench, killing more than 20 enemy soldiers and wounding several others.

"They are the reflection of the Marine Corps type who's service to the Marine Corps and country is held above their own safety and lives," said Gen. Hagee, commenting on the four Marines who received medals during the ceremony. "I'm proud to be here awarding the second highest and third highest awards for bravery to these great Marines."

"These four Marines are a reflection of every Marine and sailor in this great battalion," said Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada.

"I was just doing my job, I did the same thing every other Marine would have done, it was just a passion and love for my Marines, the experience put a lot into perspective," said Chontosh.

In effect since April 1917, and established by an Act of Congress on Feb. 4, 1919, the Navy Cross may be awarded to any person who, while serving with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself/herself in action by extraordinary heroism not justifying an award of the Medal of Honor.

The action must take place under one of three circumstances: while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

To earn a Navy Cross the act to be commended must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk and must be performed in such a manner as to render the individual highly conspicuous among others of equal grade, rate, experience, or position of responsibility.

More than 6,000 Navy Crosses have been awarded since World War I.

[farmcoot 0]

I'm with blackdog. I didn't hear a thing about this anywhere until blackdog sent me the link. This is very newsworthy and should have been reported as such.

[billybob2002 0]

The media likes to report more on the negative then the positive in Iraq...

[MSpencer 0]

You know why it didn't make the news? People are so quick to believe the WORST. Media analysts throw away these stories. They don't get the ooohs and aaahs that other things like "Marine kills 3 civilians under fire in Tikrit", or "10 people implicated in Abu Ghraib scandal", or "The Bennifer Splits", of course not. CNN, MSNBC, they all think the worst, and it makes me incredibly angry that they have the nerve to fly that American flag on their building. To betray the integrity of the news industry. To betray our military, our people, our way of life, selective service, and the sacred trust given to any man who commands a microphone.

These people should be sent to Iraq. These people should see what happens to people in the line of fire. These people have not exhibited nor shown the courage that it takes for every man and woman of our armed forces to step foot on Iraqi soil. This political bias slanders all of us. People do extraordinary things on a day to day basis, and they never get their medal, they never get their recognition, they never get their 5 years of limelight like Jessica Lynch, and her cries to be left alone ignored.

These people, these Americans, these British, these Spanish soldiers, all willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for a country that does not wish them there. Why do they do it? It's about the man next to you doing the same thing. It's about defending freedom and liberty through out the world. It's about preserving life. The ex-military people at news organizations slandering our forces are traitors to their core values and comrades, active duty, retired, and deceased.

It is human nature to think the worst of all others. It is the worst part of human nature, the part I have to say I despise the most.

*gets off of soapbox*

[blackdog~ 0]

Indeed - I'm suprised I didn't see this story in the headlines as "MARINE GONE MAD KILLS HUNDREDS OF IRAQI CIVILLIANS, RECEIVES NAVY CROSS"....

[Harnu 0]

I only saw it on the usmc.mil page when it was on, only because I'm always visiting it. No mention of it ever came in the news

[hellfish6 7]

Medal ceremonies are usually kept quiet. I don't think that's bias per se, but rather public disinterest.

[blackdog~ 0]

Medal ceremonies are usually kept quiet. I don't think that's bias per se, but rather public disinterest.  

Kind of reminds me of that 'medal ceremony' where John Kerry threw his medals out into the crowd at that one protest in the 70's! Barely any coverage of this unpatriotism on the news!

[denoir 0]

Wow, why don't we rename this thread into "The Republican Whining Thread"..

Anyway, it's a military matter altogether, it has nothing to do with civilian media. He got a medal by the military for saving his comrades in a military conflict. It is not news. It's a private thing between him, his unit and the military.

Had he saved civilians, then it would had been a different matter.

Or do you wish to have coverage like "Iraqi insurgent saves comrade by fighting off a far stronger US force"

If you want to talk about bravery in combat, then you should really demand that the media talks more about the brave fighting and sacrifice of the Iraqi resistance fighters who fight against an enemy that is many times stronger..

Get it? Soldier saves/kills soldier is not news, it's a military matter. Soldier saves/kills civilian is news.

If you can't see the difference between reporting the prison torture scandal and this, then I truly feel sorry for you.

[Akira 0]

My friend's husbands brother (sounds highly removed but it ain't), recieved the Navy Cross. Didn't hear diddly about it. In a new book about the Iraq War, there is a whole chapter devoted to the action for which he recieved it.

He was in Marine Recon at this time.

All I know about it is it was in Najaria (sp). Involved 10 trapped Marines. His brother saved these Marines which were being surrounded by Iraqi's with a shotgun and close quarter combat. Don't have the nerve to ask more.

He is retired now, turned to Christianity, and is having a hard time dealing with what he saw and did. And this from a man that was Special Forces and has been shot out of a sub's torpedo tube.

[farmcoot 0]

[blackdog~ 0]

Wow, why don't we rename this thread into "The Republican Whining Thread"..

Anyway, it's a military matter altogether, it has nothing to do with civilian media. He got a medal by the military for saving his comrades in a military conflict. It is not news. It's a private thing between him, his unit and the military.

Had he saved civilians, then it would had been a different matter.

Or do you wish to have coverage like "Iraqi insurgent saves comrade by fighting off a far stronger US force"

If you want to talk about bravery in combat, then you should really demand that the media talks more about the brave fighting and sacrifice of the Iraqi resistance fighters who fight against an enemy that is many times stronger..

Get it? Soldier saves/kills soldier is not news, it's a military matter. Soldier saves/kills civilian is news.

If you can't see the difference between reporting the prison torture scandal and this, then I truly feel sorry for you.

Hey, let's do that (rename it) and then we can rename the Iraq Thread to the "European Dumbocratic Whining Thread"!

I think that these little stories deserve to be in the headlines rather than the bad stuff, do you think that things like "SOLDIER KILLS 3 CIVILLIANS IN IRAQ" and "YET ANOTHER SOLDIER DIES IN IRAQ" is helping with the morale of our soldiers? I hope to God that they have their own newspaper in Iraq for the soldiers and the soldiers only with the GOOD things and not the bad things.

PS: No offense intended by 'dumbocratic' - it's obviously a typo and I will leave it as it is, though I know it might hurt someone's feelings (boo hoo)..

[denoir 0]

So, you think the media role in a modern democracy should be spewing out military propaganda so that the morale of the troops is boosted?

Jahwol mein Führer... or.. Da, comrade Stalin.

There is no particular reason why the US troops should have a good morale. While it may not be their fault, they were part of an illegal war and now of an occupation that is not going very well. Boosting morale is fine to a certain extent, but sooner or later you have to face the reality of what you are doing.

And there's enough BS from the politicians and the military to keep the morale. We don't need the independent media to serve as propaganda outlets.

[Akira 0]

I think that these little stories deserve to be in the headlines rather than the bad stuff, do you think that things like "SOLDIER KILLS 3 CIVILLIANS IN IRAQ" and "YET ANOTHER SOLDIER DIES IN IRAQ" is helping with the morale of our soldiers? I hope to God that they have their own newspaper in Iraq for the soldiers and the soldiers only with the GOOD things and not the bad things.

You aren't looking enough in the news then. I've seen good and bad.

And I think the soldiers have other things to worry about then what the media is saying. They can deal with that when they get back. They don't need some damn newspaper to tell them one of them died. They SAW it.

But I guarentee it won't be a "Vietnam-like" return.

The news always deals with death. Thats the way it is because thats what effects us the most. It is especially newsworthy how many months after Dubya declared hostilities over?

It has nothing to do with bias (though there can be media bias). But those always being shown in the bad light complain about "bias". Dems did it with Clinton as well.

[turms 0]

Wow, why don't we rename this thread into "The Republican Whining Thread"..

Anyway, it's a military matter altogether, it has nothing to do with civilian media. He got a medal by the military for saving his comrades in a military conflict. It is not news. It's a private thing between him, his unit and the military.

Had he saved civilians, then it would had been a different matter.

Or do you wish to have coverage like "Iraqi insurgent saves comrade by fighting off a far stronger US force"

If you want to talk about bravery in combat, then you should really demand that the media talks more about the brave fighting and sacrifice of the Iraqi resistance fighters who fight against an enemy that is many times stronger..

Get it? Soldier saves/kills soldier is not news, it's a military matter. Soldier saves/kills civilian is news.

If you can't see the difference between reporting the prison torture scandal and this, then I truly feel sorry for you.

Hey, let's do that (rename it) and then we can rename the Iraq Thread to the "European Dumbocratic Whining Thread"!

I think that these little stories deserve to be in the headlines rather than the bad stuff, do you think that things like "SOLDIER KILLS 3 CIVILLIANS IN IRAQ" and "YET ANOTHER SOLDIER DIES IN IRAQ" is helping with the morale of our soldiers? I hope to God that they have their own newspaper in Iraq for the soldiers and the soldiers only with the GOOD things and not the bad things.

The issue in Iraq is not about how US soldiers are doing, at least not in my wiev. The case on how the soldiers are doing is less irrelevant in my eyes than how the Iraqis are doing, wasnt the war about that? (no wmds,no connections to al queida) The european willing to abstain from war is in my opinion far more better ideology than going to war without reason.

[blackdog~ 0]

Well denoir, say that your country sent it's troops out in some illegal occupation and all the other countries were ganging up on it lowering soldier's moral. Would your views be different then?

Akira, indeed there is the good and the bad but most of it is the bad. It puts the people against the war even more blaming many mistakes such as civillians being killed in to far too large of a perspective. Indeed this is not Vietnam, only (and I hate to use the word "only") 500 of our troops have been killed and that's a pretty good number after taking over a whole country that has (or had) a million-man-army (who's morale was pretty low by the way, considering the way Saddam treated them).

I think in many ways, enough is ENOUGH. We don't need to hear things over and over and over again, like Lee H. Oswald's signature displays.

[Akira 0]

You are mistaking ganging up on the administration that sent the soldiers there with ganging up on the soldiers themselves.

The TBA is to be blamed, and blindly swearing fealty to teh TBA is NOT being a good American, though the TBA sure would like everyone to think that.

The criticism is justified. Do you think Republicans and Democrats join forces to ensure the defeat of a still sitting Republican President just for shits and giggles? And these are Republicans from the Reagan era!

[denoir 0]

Well denoir, say that your country sent it's troops out in some illegal occupation and all the other countries were ganging up on it lowering soldier's moral. Would your views be different then?

I really can't answer that. I would probably not like it, but I would not vent my anger at the media but rather the politicians that got us in such a shitty spot.

Quote[/b] ]only (and I hate to use the word "only") 500 of our troops have been killed

One fair point to start giving the soldiers respect is to respect their sacrifice. 837 so far, not 500.

Source: http://icasualties.org/oif/

[Akira 0]

One fair point to start giving the soldiers respect is to respect their sacrifice. 837 so far, not 500.

Source: http://icasualties.org/oif/

Let us not forget about 90% of those are AFTER hostilities were declared over.

[denoir 0]

698 of 837 to be precise. The site as a very good breakdown into periods and other statistics as well.

[Akira 0]

698 of 837 to be precise. The site as a very good breakdown into periods and other statistics as well.

83.393..............%

Close!

[denoir 0]

Actually there has been 5,715 US casualties so far. 837 dead and 4878 wounded.

[Akira 0]

Actually there has been 5,715 US casualties so far. 837 dead and 4878 wounded.

Damn it!

Quit screwin' up my figures!

[denoir 0]

Hey, where did all the republicans go?  

Did we become too "mainstream" with our depressing "figures"?

Quickly, somebody post a picture of US soldiers giving candy to Iraqi children!

[m21man 0]

Quote[/b] ]Quickly, somebody post a picture of US soldiers giving candy to Iraqi children!

Well, our mainstream media haven't given us many/any pictures of US soldiers doing constructive/kind stuff. Perhaps you could provide some?