334 Responses to:
SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE NEWS

# 1. 5/7/04 12:02 AM by steve coddington - batavia ny
great column. My wife and I miss you on the radio.

# 2. 5/7/04 12:04 AM by Kim - Rochester, NY
There WAS a piece on the news about him, I believe it was on channel 8, it was on the same day as the funeral of the fallen soldier from Brighton. IN my opinion, BOTH deserved our local news coverage, if not national. Although the body count of americans is fast approaching not even name by name recognition on the news of any sort. This war scares me, and scares my future of my boy, but I trust in what we are doing. I totally 100 percent support our troops. GOD BLESS AMERICA, and may everyone in the world experience the freedom we have.

# 3. 5/7/04 12:26 AM by Jerry K - Derby, CT
The role of this "media" is to discredit and humiliate George Bush and any actions that he has taken. After all, he did not "win the election". A few prisoners getting abused is better "news" that the many heroic efforts of our armed forces, because as our most popular news media outlets should say... "all the news that fits, print". The slant or spin that they want to portray is what they give us.

# 4. 5/7/04 12:50 AM by Michael Murphy - Vancouver, WA
Mr. Lonsberry, thank you for sharing the article. As a retired Marine (1979-1996) my heart swelled with pride as I read the citation. I am honored to be a Brother of this young courages Leatherneck (once a Marine always a Marine) I'm not worried about the quality of todays Marines, or any of the other services. LTGEN.Puller (Chesty) had it right when he said "Old Corps, new Corps, it's all the same Marine Corps" Thank the LORD it's true. Semper Fidelis. P.S im a driver and can only listen on fridays. like the show.You make me feel welcome to UT.

# 5. 5/7/04 1:00 AM by Todd - Henrietta, NY
Right on Bob! We need to hear more of this. This guy is a true hero. In times like this, this country is crying out to hear stories about the good guys, but the media is flooding us with stories about the few bad guys, and the only reason they are doing this is because they don't like the president and hope this will help them get rid of him. Lt. Chontosh needs to be in our minds now more than ever to remind us that we are the good guys in this things. Guys like him and Pat Tillman and others are the ones I want my sons to see and grow up to be like.

# 6. 5/7/04 1:13 AM by Mike Rosenhan - Kearns, UT
This Marine should get more than the Navy Cross. He should get the Congressional Medal of Honor.

It seems the Marines are on a roll in your columns this week.

# 7. 5/7/04 1:16 AM by Brad
Hoo-rah.

# 8. 5/7/04 2:09 AM by Janet - Henrietta, NY
Actually, I did hear about this story on the 11 o'clock news on Tuesday night, but I think that is why it was such a noticeable story, because it was so unusual to hear that sort of coverage of the war.

# 9. 5/7/04 3:18 AM by Steve - Livonia, NY
A little more than a year ago, the local papers like the Livingston County News, The Clarion, even the Pennysaver were printing the names of local servicemen and women on a regular basis. You could drive down any street in any town and see American flags flying off almost every porch. Where has that all gone? Shame on the media for not remembering. Shame on the rest of us for not insisting that they remember.

# 10. 5/7/04 3:44 AM by Paulie - Pittsford, NY
Bob, Thank you for bringing us this story. What a wonderful young man. His story would have made the front page in the local rags if the poor man had been killed in battle. Heroism just doesn't cut it in our local media. Victimhood is the only story that makes it.

Bob, we need you back on the airwaves.

Rochesterwatch.com, a well intended effort to give a voice to local issues, has crashed and burned. You have left a vacuum.

# 11. 5/7/04 3:57 AM by denise - williamson,n.y.
bob, why is it that our media loves nothing more than to run our soldiers and politicians down? aside from the obvious, political view, why. i was raised to have pride in my self, my family, and country. i may dislike something that my family member had said or done, but i didn't broadcast it to the world. why is it necessary to constantly show these pictures of abuse to the Iraqi prisoners? we all got the picture, we all understand that this behavior is inexcusable. why then must we continue to remind the world, minute to minute, only to incite more anger toward the u.s. i say stop all the coverage, punish those responsible and get on with life. the abuse was horrible, and should not be tolerated, but this is war. all kinds of horrible things can and will happen. this is far from the worst.

# 12. 5/7/04 5:14 AM by hunter - e. bethany, ny
Lt. Chontosh and his humvee crew has stones.

# 13. 5/7/04 6:02 AM by Mike - Webster,NY
Your absolutely correct, the only place you don't hear this is from the reporters who are actually in Iraq with the troops or have recently returned from Iraq. unfortunately their reports are not on the prime time news and are sometimes buffered with "how can they be objective? They depended on the soldiers for protection" These reports are on the tv news equivalent of the 4th page or not shown at all.

# 14. 5/7/04 6:05 AM by Suzie - Penfield, NY
Here is something else that the media is ignoring. Much of the anti-war supporters have argued that there is no connection between Saddam Hussein/Iraq and binLaden/Al-Quaida. If that is true why has binLaden offered money for the death of Paul Bremer?

# 15. 5/7/04 6:17 AM
thank God for young men like Brian.My hope is a joyful, peaceful life will be his, and his unborn child will never see what he has encountered.

# 16. 5/7/04 6:26 AM by Lee - Stanley NY
Great article. Finally someone put it in print. Our men are good men and it is the exception rather than the rule that people acted that way. I also blame the person who took those pictures. What could have been the mind set of those people? We just lowered ourselves to the Iraqui People who worked for Sadam. It escapes me as to why our media does'nt write about the good that our men are doing over there. Thanks for a great article. Too bad the rest of the media does'nt follow your example.

# 17. 5/7/04 6:43 AM by Vanessa - Rochester, NY
Wonderful article, Bob. Thank you for sharing with us this awesome story. One that many of us would never have heard otherwise.

This Marine is a true hero.

# 18. 5/7/04 7:05 AM by Rob Staples - Bergen, NY
God bless America, and God bless 1'st Lieutenant Brian Chontosh! Congratulations on your Navy Cross! As proud New Yorkers and proud citizens of the USA, lets do this right. Lets have a parade down main street, with marching bands. How about a book and movie to boot. Our country needs this and our children need hero's like Brian Chontosh! I'm one proud veteran of 1'st Lieutenant Brian Chontosh, anybody else with me?

# 19. 5/7/04 7:20 AM by Charles - Henrietta
I went to school with him. Class of 1992 not 1991. Great story thanks.

Editor's Note: maybe he just graduated when he was supposed to and you took the five-year plan.

# 20. 5/7/04 7:21 AM by Art - Rochester
And you expect the PC crowd to report a story like this??? Optimistic, aren't we! They aren't going to show this war in a positive light because they have an agenda and their agenda is not served by this war. The only satisfaction we will get from our ultimate defeat by the Muslims will be witnessing the execution of the PC crowd prior to our own!

And he only got the Navy Cross for this? Sgt. Alvin York was awarded the CMH in WWI for not much more than this. York killed about 28 Germans and captured another 130 or so. Times have changed.

Editor's Note: fyi, there's no such thing as a CMH. it is the medal of honor. it is awarded by an act of congress. but there is nothing called the "congressional medal of honor."

# 21. 5/7/04 7:25 AM by Mr. Venom - Rochester NY
Thanks for sharing with us the detailed story, as the media should have covered it. Your description was so vivid and detailed that my heart raced while reading it, and my pulse must've doubled, at least! You're right Bob, the media didn't properly relay this story of outstanding bravery and leadership. As a child, I was brainwashed by Walter Cronkite's crap every night about the Vietnam war. Some of it was true, but so very little was. Cronkite was no journalist, he just played one on TV!Thanks for relentlessly going after today's crack-head excuses for journalists. Their grammar and convolution of the English language is atrocious! The schools they got their coveted journalism degrees from ought to issue a recall and be censured for turning out such lame-brained goofballs.

# 22. 5/7/04 7:30 AM by dale - rochester
THANK YOU BOB !

# 23. 5/7/04 7:37 AM by WHAMREALLYSUCKS
Amen. Thanks Bob.

# 24. 5/7/04 7:41 AM by Carl - Huron NY
Hi Bob, OOHRAH!!SEMPER FI

# 25. 5/7/04 7:42 AM by Steven Armstrong - Salt Lake City, Utah
I'm proud to have Men like these putting their lives on the line for me.

God Bless the United States Marines! Semper Fi!

# 26. 5/7/04 7:57 AM by David W. Hudomint - Rush, New York
Bob,

Thank you for telling us about 1st. Lt. Chontosh. I never heard the story...why should we be surprised. The media (with the possible exception of Fox News) have such an anti-war, anti-Bush slant to them that I want to puke. I watch only Fox...the rest are not worthy of anyone's time.

If you are looking for another location where you can hear the real story of our valiant fighting men and women go to www.defendamerica.mil. Here you get the real story on what are service people are doing without the liberal bias. There are also links to the websites of all the services and Guard.

Thank you 1st Lt. Chontosh and thank you to all are our fine service personnel. They lay it on the line everyday for us and get so little recognition. I salute all of our military men and women and thank them for their service from the bottom of my heart. Semper Fi!

Editor's Note: update: he's been promoted to captain.

# 27. 5/7/04 8:39 AM by Dominic - Hilton (For Now) NY
What amazing bravery and devotion to his fellow Marines and Americans. We're proud of you Mr. Chontosh.

As for Mr. Bin-Laden and his terrorist ilk - they should read this story carefully and think about it.

I think they need to understand exactly what us "infidels" are capable of. They better understand that even those of us with only 10% of the honor, courage, and strength of Mr. Brin Chontosh are still 100% more than they ever estimated.

As for the media... we're not stupid. We're not buying your left wing crap. We know right from wrong without the fear of the PC police. We understand what is at stake in this election, and we will do our duty in November in spite of what you say and do.

GOD BLESS AMERICA !

# 28. 5/7/04 8:45 AM by George - Gananoque Ontario CANADA
Thank you Captain. You do your country and freedom loving people around the world a great honour. I am proud of you. George

# 29. 5/7/04 8:46 AM by Brian - Greece
Bob,

The mainstream media are SLIME! This man deserves a whole slew of medals! I wish I could thank him personally. It was only by the grace of God that Brian Chontosh was not awarded his medal posthumously! He is a shining example of a United States Marine. I know that there are MANY MORE brave leaders out there like him fighting for our country at this very moment. We are in good hands to trust the defense of our great nation to men and women of this caliber. Now if we could only get the politicians out of the way so these brave folks could get the job done and come home!

# 30. 5/7/04 8:49 AM by Wes - American Fork, UT
I swell with pride for the honorable service of our armed forces. Thumbs-up!

I despise the negligence of the national media. Thumbs-down on the media (present company excluded).

# 31. 5/7/04 8:51 AM by Brian - Greece
Bob, I forgot to thank YOU for writing this column! Those of us that love America would probably never have known the story without you. As you said this type of thing would NEVER get reported on because it is in direct contrast to the commie-lib media's agenda!

# 32. 5/7/04 8:51 AM by Brian - Greece
Bob, I forgot to thank YOU for writing this column! Those of us that love America would probably never have known the story without you. As you said this type of thing would NEVER get reported on because it is in direct contrast to the commie-lib media's agenda!

# 33. 5/7/04 8:51 AM by DW - Rush, NY
That's an amazing story, Bob. It should have been front page news. How can the American media not understand that they are an essential part of the enemy's strategy for defeating us, and that they are not disappointing the enemy? Is it more important to defeat President Bush than to defeat the terrorists? They don't realize what is at stake.

# 34. 5/7/04 8:52 AM by Steve
Thanks Bob I heard a blurb on him last night thought I miss heard it because I am a war buff and that is a big freaking deal, but the news I heard acted like the guy was just changing his socks or something.

On a side note: In the latest catholic courier Bishop Clark is now encouraging parishioners to learn about Islam, and in the same paper he wonders why no one is becoming priests, lol. Well if you encourage someone to look at another religion well they just just might loose interest in yours, dummy!

Editor's Note: shouldn't bishop clark be encouraging the muslims to learn about christianity? i'm not sure saint paul went about learning about other religions, i think he instead taught others about his own. bishop clark should be calling the muslims to christ.

# 35. 5/7/04 9:00 AM by Patrick - Syracuse
I cannot find the words to adequately express my admiration for the work being done by our men and women in Iraq. Most of them half my age. Reading of this soldiers' actions gave me goose bumps. They are all true heroes.

# 36. 5/7/04 9:10 AM by Margaret - Greece, NY
As the mother of a Marine who is currently stationed out at Twentynine Palms, I say Thanks Bob. These stories are the ones we should be reporting on!

# 37. 5/7/04 9:16 AM by Tom Dey - Springwater, NY
Thanks for the uplifting news, Bob. The Navy Cross doesn't come easy. From Silver Star to the Congressional Medal of Honor, it falls squarely in the category of those who jump into hell for a righteous cause and miraculously survive...to fight again. My uncle's silver star made the D&C front-page headline during WWII. Shows how much that medium has degenerated over the decades. We got a big envelope from the Air Force yesterday (on our 32nd wedding anniversary). It's my daughter's "Last Will and Testament", prepared by the military lawyer at Offutt AFB. Her small yellow Post-It said not to worry...it's just something they have to do before deployment. I marked a folder "Erika's Will" and put it in the file cabinet.

# 38. 5/7/04 9:23 AM by Joan Blevins - S Ogden, Utah
What a GREAT article! Does it appear in any newspapers? Would it be ok to send it to MY newspaper?

Keep up the great work, Bob!

Sincerely,

Joan

# 39. 5/7/04 9:32 AM - rochester
Thank you for bringing us the story of this young hero.

now off topic: whats the lonsberry survivor review of last nights show and prediction for sunday? we miss you on the radio! we always loved hearing the big show the day after survivor when you would talk about it with digiorgio and the folks who called in.

# 40. 5/7/04 9:39 AM by Ralph - Batavia, NY
Bob,

Just another example of why the TV news and Gannett are Farce's. As a VET (USCGR), Churchville-Chili Grad and an American, I am proud of him. What a true hero.

Thanks, Ralph Semper Paratus

# 41. 5/7/04 9:55 AM by John - albany
What an awesome story. My heart was pumping as I read it. I can only imagine what Brian Chontosh's heart was doing.

For every one weirdo like the MP chick with a fetish for naked Iraqis, there's a hundred heroes like Brian who we'll never hear about. Thanks for doing your part to change that.

# 42. 5/7/04 10:02 AM by Cathy - East Bloomfield, NY
As usual, Bob, a wonderful article for us to read. It is so uplifting to read about true American heroes, this one on Brian, and the one the other day on Jason. It is such a shame that these stories are not in the newspapers as headlines. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.

I miss you terribly on the radio. I have to switch to 950, and then to 700 (yes I can 700 in Cincinnati) for The Bozo at night.

Take care Bob, and I hope your children are doing well.

# 43. 5/7/04 10:17 AM by "Giovanni" - Salt Lake City, UT
Actually, I do trust the media coverage of the war. (But only because people like you, Bob, are part of it.)

# 44. 5/7/04 10:35 AM by Paul Martin - Rochester,New York
Hey Bob, Semper Fi to Brian and the other members of our Military. When it comes to the news, they usually like vulchers on a road kill. I once asked a reporter I knew why there was so much coverage of bad news and so little of good news on the TV, radio & newspaper. He said that unfortunately, you can get weeks of news on something "bad" but your are lucky if you get two days on some "good" news. It's about "numbers" not what is "right". This country is in sad shape. We forget the heroes and make front page headlines of the disgraced. To you and your family, have a great weekend and God Bless!

# 45. 5/7/04 10:55 AM by Fred - Brighton, NY
How true. How true. How true. I turned off Brokaw the other night for exactly this reason. Doom and gloom and how bad the war is going, and on and on and blah blah blah. Please read Cal Thomas's article today on how our biased media handles the truth.

# 46. 5/7/04 11:04 AM by Churchville-Chili Saints Pride
Thank You Captain Chontosh..,HOO-AH!Saints Pride

# 47. 5/7/04 11:15 AM by zora
Thank you, Bob. I'm so tired of hearing about the few, to the chagrin of the many. We will never hear of the gains and heroics of this war through the mass media. They are nothing more than another branch of the political system. Your poll tells the story. Over 90% do NOT believe the mainstream news. I try to get my news from "alternative" sources.

As for the "torture" of Iraqi prisoners...There must have been similar instances in past wars. It's just that you didn't hear about it. I believe they are the exception and not the rule. However, making Iraqi men wear women's underwear just doesn't compare to burning American bodies and hanging them from a bridge. War is a bloody, awful business. It is not an exact science and it is not a social gathering. We do the best we can and pray to God.

I would like to see your comments on the Muslim call to prayer that is announced serveral times a day in Michigan (?). Why is it that when immigrants come to this country, we are now expected to conform to the standards of their home country? When my grandparents came over from Poland, the Americans didn't have to learn to speak Polish. We used to be a melting pot, now we are a nation of many....many different nations. We are no longer unified and known as Americans. Today's immigrants don't want to be Americans. They want to be who they were in the "old country" but have all the perks of living here. I am proud to be an American. I am not a "Polish-American". I am an AMERICAN. God Bless our troops and God Bless the U.S.A.

# 48. 5/7/04 11:28 AM by Mark - Wheatfield, NY
Well, done Captain! God bless you and all of our service men and women. We are proud of you and our country!

# 49. 5/7/04 11:44 AM by John - Getzville, NY
Hey Bob,

Great column!!!

Personally, I believe that we need to take the gloves off, pull our guys out and nuke that whole part of the globe...

I'm tired of the constant barrage of anti-Americanism from that part of the world...And I'm also tired of the USA being the only country that has to play by "the rules"...Why are we turning ourselves inside-out because of wartime treatment of prisoners?!?!?! Has everyone forgotten Fallujah, 9/11/01, USS Cole, Bali, Munich 1972?

Terrorists and their ilk do not deserve humane treatment, they are not human...

Thanks Bob...

# 50. 5/7/04 11:49 AM
I learned a valuable lesson about the U.S. media and the propaganda they feed us. I used to listen to the BBC, Radio Moscow, & the Voice of America on shortwave, in order to hear what was really going on in the world. Every source had a different agenda of course, but I was surprised at how distorted our "mainstream media" presented the so-called news. An example of the difference would be to tune in to BBC World News on WXXI, and then watch network news the same night. You would think you were on a different planet. They all lie and distort to an almost unbelievable degree. The old adage about believing none of what you hear and only half of what you see applies to journalists almost universally! (Al-Jazeera included).

Would you like to:
add your own comment? or send this story to a friend?