Since Sgt. Rafael Peralta was denied the Medal of Honor in 2008, I have been one of many people hassling politicians about the situation, and the urgency to elevate his posthumous award from the Navy Cross to his originally nominated Medal of Honor. After politicians nominated him for the award, after the 1st Marine Division Commander said "without a shadow of a doubt" he believed there was willful intent on Peralta's part to give his life to save the other Marines in the room with him, Defense Secretary Robert Gates denied Sergeant Rafael Peralta the Medal of Honor. Instead, Peralta posthumously received the Navy Cross, which it is reported that Peralta's mother Rosa refused, standing firm in her position
In the event you are unfamiliar with the situation, here is a brief recap...
On 15 November 2004, 1st Battalion 3rd Marines were participating in Operation Phantom Fury in the city of Fallujah, Iraq. As anyone over the age of 25 will recall, it was a huge ordeal and the battle was blanketing the international news agencies. It dominated the US's media, newspapers, etc. Operation Phantom Fury officially began on 7 November 2004.
Although rightpundits.com is an extremely right-wing, partisan website, it did turn out an excellent article on Peralta's sacrifice:
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:
Sergeant 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.
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 Sergeant 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 Sergeant 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 Sergeant 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? (Source)After two years of writing, two years of being an overall pain-in-the-ass, I finally heard from one of Oregon's federal representatives Friday. Being an election year, I thought this would be a good time to write these politicians, again. The following was relayed to me via email on the Sgt. Peralta Medal of Honor issue:
Sergeant Rafael Peralta's bravery exemplifies the best of the Marine Corps. His willingness to sacrifice his life to save fellow Marines cannot be questioned. After reading your letter, I learned that the Secretary of the Navy did award Sergeant Peraltathe second highest award for valor, the Navy Cross. In addition, the Department of Defense did consider Sergeant Peralta for the Medal of Honor, but concluded the standard for the highest award was not met. I agree with you that Sergeant Peralta's actions seem to merit the Medal of Honor, but I am hesitant to subject decisions on posthumous awards to political scrutiny. It's just not the place for politics.The most pertinent quotes are in bold, with the finale underlined. So, if this is not the "place for politics," then where is? Tell me, Mr. DeFazio, is this just a laziness thing, or is this issue not important to you?
While Art Robinson isn't any better for District #4, DeFazio will not be garnering my vote either. What is with our elected representatives picking and choosing what matters to them and not what matters to their constituents?
My resolve has never been stronger, though, and I will continue to write and email and call all the politicians I can. I will not give up, not until Peralta's Medal of Honor is made right or I am dead, whichever comes first.
If this matters to you, do something about and write your politicians. Do not waste your time signing one of those pathetic online petitions, which do absolutely nothing except occupy space on the internet and make the signed feel better, Snopes has cleared that one up for all.
Sergeant Rafael Peralta deserves so much more than our federal government has given him. Stand up for him and the rest of the "bastard children of 1/3," the forgotten heroes, and tell your politicians this situation is a grotesque miscarriage of our system. Make it right.
Keep in mind, of the seven Medal of Honor nominations that have made it to our asshat Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, ONLY Peralta's nomination was denied. Interesting, don't you think?
