Spartan Performance/CrossFit Suffolk

CROSSFIT SUFFOLK *** Forging Elite Fitness

8 rounds for time of:

8 Power Snatches, 115/75#

8 Ring Dips

Do Energy Drinks Improve Athletic Performance?

Ranking Heroism "Much has been made, and rightfully so, of President Obama's Medal of Honor presentation last month to Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, the first living recipient of the nation's highest military decoration since the Vietnam War. But the award also raises questions. One is why so few Medals of Honor have been awarded to those who have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, compared with the numbers issued during previous conflicts. Another is how it is decided whether a warrior's risk and sacrifice in battle merit such decorations."–-David Freed, LA Times

We've pondered the questions that are raised in the link to the above article. We have not served in the military, but have always supported those who have. When you read of Captain Brian Chontosh's event that resulted in American lives being saved and receiving the Navy Cross one has to question what an exceptionally brave Marine has to do to be awarded the Medal Of Honor, besides being killed. Captain Chontosh is also an exceptional CrossFitter. That may or may not have anything to do with his story, but the CrossFit community, if not all Americans, should know who Brian Chontosh is.

We had the great honor of speaking to Captain Chontosh on the phone last year and then meeting him at the 2010 CrossFit Games Sectionals in New Jersey. The Captain downplayed his heroism and attributed his performance to mostly luck, experience and being with good men. Captain Chontosh is humble but you can see burning intensity when you look him in the eye. There's something that goes beyond "luck" and "experience" and fighting alongside the best of men.

"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, First Lieutenant 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, First Lieutenant 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."–Navy Cross Citation presented to Captain Chontosh

Why didn't Captain Brian Chontosh receive the Medal Of Honor? We didn't get the impression that the good Captain cares much about this issue, but in our humble opinion he deserves the MOH!