What is your best example of a leader doing "the right thing" on deployment, even if it might have put their career at risk?

Making the right decision is the best thing you can do. Making the wrong decision is the second best thing you can do. Making no decision is the worst thing you can do.
Teddy Roosevelt

May 24th 2011 our advisor team was in support of an artillery battery working patrols out of Kajaki. The Patrol received heavy and accurate small arms fire. As team leader, it was my duty to work in partnering the Afghans with our Marine units. The squad leader at the POS was open minded and worked well with the Afghans. When the shooting started he picked up fire utilizing joint assets; PKM, RPD, RPG. I'm a school trained DM, so was a member of my team. The team on the deck needed accurate precision fires, so instead of directing crew serves with our partnered squad leader (who was already doing a great job) my spotter and I jumped on the SASR and started taking out PID threats. It got me my ass chewed, which I took sole responsibility for, but every single member of that squad made it back safely. Because Semper fidelis - ALWAYS

You made a decision right or wrong that could not be assessed by the normal chain of command at that point

You did the right thing, and don't let anyone tell you difference. First if they lacked confidence in you, you would not have the job. Slit second decisions must be made, and there is "mother may" bull. It's called ability to make a sound decision under pressure. I say you are a true leader and hero.

In the book band of brothers where all the senior NCO of easy company wrote a joint petition of no confidence in the company commander captain Sobel. It had to have been tough because they were essentially committing mutiny but their goal was the survival of the company for D DAY

I personally believe you can't be good at something without bending a few rules. Weird for someone in my MOS to say I imagine but it is what it is. SOP says do this, you saw an alternative that saved lives and saved DOD some face on the 9 o'clock news. Sometimes people in charge only see little picture, military or civilian doesn't matter. They saw you didn't follow a rule, not that you adapted to the situation and overcame. Situations need to be judged by their merit and the circumstances surrounding them. If a rule was bent without malice, without personal gain, and with the intent to further the mission then it should be commended. They tell us we're not drones, that they want us to think and act. I say prove it.

This is why in the classic Prussian command arrangement theatre commanders and mission commanders had considerable leeway to fudge the details to deal with some new local developement. If you ask me reguardless of rank if something needs done and waiting for orders might effect your ability to do so then go ahead and make the decision. We're all on the same team here there should be no internal conflict because of this.

You probably saved lives, that should give you a clear conscience. Great job., it's what we should do. You made a decesion based on real time right now.

The right thing would be giving priority to the safety of the lives if its within my abilities. That could be an example of selfless service. My admiration to those brave men and women that serve and endure.