Sgt rafael peralta biography

He died instantly, but saved the lives of his fellow Marines. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates rejected the Marine Corps recommendation, saying that his panel unanimously confirmed that Peralta's actions did not meet the Medal of Honor standard "without any possibility of error or doubt. During a Marine Corps investigation of the attack LtGen Natonski had said, "I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt" that the gravely-wounded Peralta covered the grenade.

Doubt arose when some believed that Peralta was clinically dead when the grenade was thrown. That finding infuriated many Marines over the years. After it was announced that Peralta would receive the Navy Cross instead, a number of people requested reconsideration, with the congressional delegations from California and Hawaii and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus requesting a presidential review of Gates' decision.

Lawmakers continued their efforts; of seven nominations for the Medal of Honor reaching the Secretary of Defense, Peralta's was the only one not approved. In March , the Marine Corps Times reported that Navy officials were reviewing new evidence related to Peralta's case, including two videos one by Marine combat photographer Steve Sebby and a pathology report.

The evidence was provided by California Representative Duncan D. In December , the Department of Defense announced that the Navy Cross would not be upgraded, with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta saying that he did not want to overturn his predecessor's decision. Hunter said he would appeal, introducing a resolution co-sponsored by fellow California Representative Xavier Becerra which recommended that Peralta receive the Medal of Honor.

When Chuck Hagel replaced Panetta as Secretary of Defense, Hunter hoped he would be more receptive to the new evidence.

Sgt rafael peralta biography

A Washington Post report further complicated the story in The other Marine, Davi Allen, was wounded in the grenade blast; he told the Post that he watched the explosive detonate near Peralta, not underneath him. The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. All he ever wanted to be was an American, to serve his country. The decision to present Peralta with the Navy Cross rather than the Medal of Honor remains mired in controversy, and the details of his death are muddied by conflicting reports and testimony, further convoluted by differing conclusions from physicians and experts.

He is also working on the case of Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta, who was killed in combat in but denied the Medal of Honor for his actions. Hawaii House of Representatives. Archived PDF from the original on The Secretary of the Navy. Flight Jacket. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. April 28, The Times-Picayune. THC Classroom. The History Channel.

Retrieved 22 December Retrieved 16 February Archived from the original on 2 July Retrieved 17 March Mulvehill, Scott 26 February San Diego. City News Service. External links [ edit ]. Wikiquote has quotations related to Rafael Peralta. United States Marine Corps. Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary. Hidden categories: All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from June CS1 Spanish-language sources es Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata.

Toggle the table of contents. Rafael Peralta. November 15, aged 25 Fallujah , Iraq. Iraq War Second Battle of Fallujah. Navy Cross Purple Heart. Navy Cross. Combat Action Ribbon. Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. National Defense Service Medal. Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star. Clearing scores of houses in the previous three days, Sergeant Peralta asked to join an under-strength squad and volunteered to stand post the night of 14 November, allowing fellow Marines more time to rest.

The following morning, during search and attack operations, while clearing the seventh house of the day, the point man opened a door to a back room and immediately came under intense, close-range automatic weapons fire from multiple insurgents. The squad returned fire, wounding one insurgent. While attempting to maneuver out of the line of fire, Sergeant Peralta was shot and fell mortally wounded.

After the initial exchange of gunfire, the insurgents broke contact, throwing a fragmentation grenade as they fled the building.