Flying a Lynx AH.7 helicopter on the evening of June 10, 2006, Chesarek was providing radio communication relay for British ground troops conducting a company-sized search operation near Amarah, Iraq.

Monitoring radio transmissions, he overheard that a vehicle involved in the operation had become disabled and a crowd of insurgents was firing small arms and rocket-propelled grenades at the company.

Chesarek, aware that a British soldier, Colour Sergeant Ian Page, had been critically injured with a gunshot wound to the head, then made the decision that as the only helicopter in the area he would conduct a medical evacuation with the Lynx despite his version of the aircraft type not being designed for this use.

After which Chesarek reflected on his lost comrades and brothers in arms saying:I am greatly honored and would like to accept this prestigious award for 847 NAS in memory of Lt. Cmdr.

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