🇺🇸 First Lieutenant Brian “Tosh” Chontosh — A Marine Who Refused to Stop On March 25, 2003, during the opening weeks of Operation Iraqi Freedom, First Lieutenant Brian R. Chontosh and his Marines were moving north on Highway 1 toward Ad Diwaniyah when they were caught in a coordinated ambush involving mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons. With coalition tanks blocking the road ahead, Chontosh realized his platoon was trapped in a killing zone. Instead of pulling back, he ordered his driver to move directly toward the enemy position. Under intense fire, Chontosh directed his vehicle into the enemy trench. He then dismounted and entered the trench, fighting with his M16A2 rifle and 9mm pistol. He picked up discarded enemy rifles—twice—and continued fighting. When another Marine found an enemy RPG launcher, Chontosh used it against another group of enemy fighters. When the fight was over, he had cleared more than 200 meters of enemy trench, killing more than 20 enemy soldiers and wounding several others. His actions helped break the ambush and allowed his platoon to continue the mission. For that extraordinary display of decisive leadership, courage under fire, and devotion to his Marines, Brian Chontosh was awarded the Navy Cross—the second-highest U.S. military decoration for valor in combat, second only to the Medal of Honor. And his story didn't end there. As a captain, Chontosh led Marines during Operation Phantom Fury, the Second Battle of Fallujah, where he earned two Bronze Stars with Valor devices. He ultimately retired from the Marine Corps as a Major after approximately 20 years of service. After leaving the Corps, he founded the Big Fish Foundation, dedicated to helping veterans reconnect with purpose, service and one another after combat. 🇺🇸 Major Brian “Tosh” Chontosh — Selected Military Awards 🏅 Navy Cross — for extraordinary heroism during Operation Iraqi Freedom, March 25, 2003. 🏅 Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” — 2 awards — awarded for valor during Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah. 🏅 Meritorious Service Medal — among his documented personal military awards. 🏅 Additional military decorations and awards — his published biography identifies additional awards beyond those listed above.