thedrifter
09-22-08, 10:07 AM
Sargeant Rafael Peralta: Medal of Honor?
By Cathryn Friar
The Scriptures says there is no greater love then one who lays down their life for another. Rafael Peralta did that for his fellow Marines in Fallujah in 2004. He was recently awarded the Navy Cross posthumously but many believe he should have been awarded the Medal of Honor. A California congressional delegation has asked President Bush for intervention in the matter.
He was a sergeant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment for “Operation Dawn”, the November offensive that re-took the Iraqi city of Fallujah, which had become a safe haven for terrorists. What Rafael did on November 15, 2004 was an act of selfless sacrifice and faithfulness to his fellow Marines and his country.
This is what heroism looks like:
Sargeant Peralta was age 25 years old. He and his family moved to San Diego from Tiajuana when he was a teenager. He joined the Marines the day after he got his green card and earned his citizenship while in uniform. He was fiercely loyal to the Corps and took pride in its traditions. While in Kuwait, waiting to go into Iraq, he had his camouflage uniform sent out to be pressed.
He constantly looked for opportunities to help his Marine brothers, which is why he ended up where he was on November 15th. A week into the battle for Fallujah, the Marines were still doing the deadly work of clearing the city of terrorist vermin, house by house. As a platoon scout, Peralta didn’t have to go out with the assault team that day. He volunteered to go.
The Marines entered a house and kicked in the doors of two rooms that proved empty. But there was another closed door to an adjoining room. It was unlocked, and Peralta, in the lead, opened it. He was immediately hit with AK-47 fire in his face and upper torso by three insurgents. He fell out of the way into one of the cleared rooms to give his fellow Marines a clear shot at the enemy. During the firefight, a yellow fragmentation grenade flew out of the room, landing near Peralta and several fellow Marines. The uninjured Marines tried to scatter out of the way, two of them trying to escape the room, but were blocked by a locked door. At that point, barely alive, Peralta grabbed the grenade and cradled it to his body.
His body took most of the blast. One Marine was seriously injured, but the rest sustained only minor shrapnel wounds. Corporal Brannon Dyer told a reporter from the Army Times, “He saved half my fire team.”
After an investigation, a decision by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to reject a Marine Corps recommendation that Rafael receive the Medal of Honor has angered Marines who say he sacrificed his life to save theirs.
A Gates-appointed panel unanimously concluded that the report on Peralta’s action that included the testimony of marines who were eyewitnesses to Peralta’s heroism, did not meet the standard of “no margin of doubt or possibility of error,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.
The argument seems to be about whether a mortally wounded Marine could have intentionally reached for the grenade after suffering a serious head wound. (emphasis mine)
I suppose the Pentagon believes that Rafael, as he was falling to the ground - dead - had an involuntary movement that saw that grenade, extended out his arm, and scooped it up under his body to protect his brothers. Amazing!
The decision is “almost like somebody called me a liar,” said Marine Sargeant Nicholas Jones who was with Rafael that day and saw what happened. Jones said Peralta’s actions have become part of Marine Corps lore, as drill sergeants and officer-candidate instructors repeat it to new Marines to this day.
“His name is definitely synonymous with valor,” said Jones, who himself was wounded by the grenade blast.
The congressional delegation, spearheaded by Rep. Duncan Hunter, sent a letter asking President Bush for a review and reconsideration of the case of Sargeant Rafael Peralta receiving the Medal of Honor.
Incredible heroism in battle happens. We hear stories about it alot. The courageous human spirit and sacrificing oneself so others may live are core values in war demonstrated by Sargeant Peralta. It is clear that he wasn’t dead - yet. This young man, who enlisted in the Marines when he received his green card, who volunteered for the front line duty in Fallujah, who loved being with his marine brothers, had one last act of heroism in him.
President Bush, we have watched you with them over the years. You love our military and know their sacrifice. Though the Navy Cross is our second highest award for combat bravery, give this marine the Medal of Honor. How can we not?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KN_1elJWG8&eurl=http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=2091
Ellie
By Cathryn Friar
The Scriptures says there is no greater love then one who lays down their life for another. Rafael Peralta did that for his fellow Marines in Fallujah in 2004. He was recently awarded the Navy Cross posthumously but many believe he should have been awarded the Medal of Honor. A California congressional delegation has asked President Bush for intervention in the matter.
He was a sergeant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment for “Operation Dawn”, the November offensive that re-took the Iraqi city of Fallujah, which had become a safe haven for terrorists. What Rafael did on November 15, 2004 was an act of selfless sacrifice and faithfulness to his fellow Marines and his country.
This is what heroism looks like:
Sargeant Peralta was age 25 years old. He and his family moved to San Diego from Tiajuana when he was a teenager. He joined the Marines the day after he got his green card and earned his citizenship while in uniform. He was fiercely loyal to the Corps and took pride in its traditions. While in Kuwait, waiting to go into Iraq, he had his camouflage uniform sent out to be pressed.
He constantly looked for opportunities to help his Marine brothers, which is why he ended up where he was on November 15th. A week into the battle for Fallujah, the Marines were still doing the deadly work of clearing the city of terrorist vermin, house by house. As a platoon scout, Peralta didn’t have to go out with the assault team that day. He volunteered to go.
The Marines entered a house and kicked in the doors of two rooms that proved empty. But there was another closed door to an adjoining room. It was unlocked, and Peralta, in the lead, opened it. He was immediately hit with AK-47 fire in his face and upper torso by three insurgents. He fell out of the way into one of the cleared rooms to give his fellow Marines a clear shot at the enemy. During the firefight, a yellow fragmentation grenade flew out of the room, landing near Peralta and several fellow Marines. The uninjured Marines tried to scatter out of the way, two of them trying to escape the room, but were blocked by a locked door. At that point, barely alive, Peralta grabbed the grenade and cradled it to his body.
His body took most of the blast. One Marine was seriously injured, but the rest sustained only minor shrapnel wounds. Corporal Brannon Dyer told a reporter from the Army Times, “He saved half my fire team.”
After an investigation, a decision by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to reject a Marine Corps recommendation that Rafael receive the Medal of Honor has angered Marines who say he sacrificed his life to save theirs.
A Gates-appointed panel unanimously concluded that the report on Peralta’s action that included the testimony of marines who were eyewitnesses to Peralta’s heroism, did not meet the standard of “no margin of doubt or possibility of error,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.
The argument seems to be about whether a mortally wounded Marine could have intentionally reached for the grenade after suffering a serious head wound. (emphasis mine)
I suppose the Pentagon believes that Rafael, as he was falling to the ground - dead - had an involuntary movement that saw that grenade, extended out his arm, and scooped it up under his body to protect his brothers. Amazing!
The decision is “almost like somebody called me a liar,” said Marine Sargeant Nicholas Jones who was with Rafael that day and saw what happened. Jones said Peralta’s actions have become part of Marine Corps lore, as drill sergeants and officer-candidate instructors repeat it to new Marines to this day.
“His name is definitely synonymous with valor,” said Jones, who himself was wounded by the grenade blast.
The congressional delegation, spearheaded by Rep. Duncan Hunter, sent a letter asking President Bush for a review and reconsideration of the case of Sargeant Rafael Peralta receiving the Medal of Honor.
Incredible heroism in battle happens. We hear stories about it alot. The courageous human spirit and sacrificing oneself so others may live are core values in war demonstrated by Sargeant Peralta. It is clear that he wasn’t dead - yet. This young man, who enlisted in the Marines when he received his green card, who volunteered for the front line duty in Fallujah, who loved being with his marine brothers, had one last act of heroism in him.
President Bush, we have watched you with them over the years. You love our military and know their sacrifice. Though the Navy Cross is our second highest award for combat bravery, give this marine the Medal of Honor. How can we not?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KN_1elJWG8&eurl=http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=2091
Ellie