Marine Pilot Receives British Honor

A lot of American tourists come to London hoping to catch a glimpse of the Queen. But Maj. William Cheserak is no tourist: He's a hero.

Cheserak, a U.S. Marine pilot, was honored on Wednesday in a way no American has been since the Second World War. He was awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross — the most prestigious medal for airborne service the British have.

"I was overwhelmed, quite surprised," Chesarak says.

Chesarek was serving as an exchange helicopter pilot in Iraq with a British Naval Air Squadron, flying cover for a ground patrol when it came under intense fire.

"I did basically a run into the town, low level," he explains, adding that he preferred to not necessarily draw fire.

But draw fire he did, with one rocket round just missing him. Despite that, Chesarek then flew into the fight to evacuate a severely wounded British soldier, likely saving his life. He didn't think he did anything extraordinary.

But others did. This war has plenty of controversy. It now has one more hero.


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