William Chesarek

Wiliam D. Chesarek Jr. of Temecula, California is an Officer of the United States Marine Corps. As of July 1, 2006 he holds the rank of Major. [cite web
url = http://www.usmc.mil/maradmins/maradmin2000.nsf/d50a617f5ac75ae085256856004f3afc/f51baccae49a302e85257195006a1b0a?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,284%2F06
title = Officer promotions for July 2006 and planned officer promotions for August 2006
accessdate = 2007-03-23
author = MARADMIN
date = 2006-06-22
work = Administrative circular
publisher = United States Marine Corps]

In June 2006 he was a Captain taking part in an officer exchange program with British forces in Iraq. On June 11, 2006, he was flying a Lynx helicopter which was ordered to evacuate injured British Colour Sergeant Ian Pagecite news
title = Big day for 5ft Army medic who won MC
first= Nigel
last= Bunyan
url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/22/norris22.xml
format = html
work = The Daily Telegraph
date = 2007-03-22
accessdate = 2007-03-22] who had been shot in the mouth by insurgents. As a result of his actions that day, he was awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross. The award was announced by the British Ministry of Defence on December 15, 2006.cite news
title = Operational Honours and Awards List: 15 December 2006
url = http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/OperationalHonoursAndAwardsList15December2006.htm
work = MOD website
publisher = MOD
date = 2006-12-15
accessdate = 2007-03-23] He received the award from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on March 21, 2007.cite news
first = Lee
last = Glendinning
title = Historic award for female private
url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/mar/22/military.leeglendinning
work = The Guardian
publisher = Guardian Media Group
id = ISSN|0261-3077
page = 8
date = 2007-03-22
accessdate = 2007-03-22]

Michelle Norris, the young British medic who initially aided Page, received her Military Cross (the first woman to do so) at the same ceremony.

Chesarek is believed to be the first US serviceman to receive this significant British decoration (roughly equivalent to the Silver Star as the third level gallantry/valor decoration) since the end of World War II.

References