Marine who saved British officer earns Distinguished Flying Cross

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, March 22, 2007

LONDON – A U.S. Marine helicopter pilot who rescued a wounded British soldier in Iraq has received a rare British honor.

Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday presented the Distinguished Flying Cross to Maj. William Chesarek, 32, of Newport, R.I.

Press Association, the British news agency, said Chesarek was believed to be the first American to be honored since World War II.

Chesarek was flying a Lynx helicopter for British forces in an exchange program. He braved hostile fire to evacuate a wounded British officer in Al Amara province in June.

British Pvt. Michelle Norris, 19, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, received the Military Cross for her action in attending to the wounded officer. She was the first woman to be awarded the Military Cross.