The central argument posed relates to whether the already mortally-wounded Peralta could have intentionally reached for the grenade, shielding his fellow Marines from the blast. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates rejected the Marine Corps' recommendation, concluding that his appointed panel unanimously confirmed that his actions did not meet the standard of "without any possibility of error or doubt". Richard Natonski that he would not receive the Medal of Honor, but the Navy Cross instead, the service's second highest award for valor. On September 17, 2008, Rafael Peralta's family was notified by LtGen. Peralta was awaiting presidential approval. As of January 22, 2008, a Medal of Honor award for Sgt. Congressman Bob Filner of California introduced legislation to award Sgt. Peralta is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. Peralta was still conscious on the floor and reports indicate that despite his wounds, he was able to reach for the grenade and pull it under his body absorbing the majority of the lethal blast and shrapnel which killed him instantly, but saved the lives of his fellow Marines. Peralta tried to get out of the room but could not. The insurgents responded by throwing a grenade at the Marines. He dropped to the floor and moved aside in order to allow the Marines behind him to return fire. Peralta opened a third door and was hit multiple times with AK-47 fire, leaving him severely wounded. He found two rooms empty on the ground floor. Sergeant Peralta led his team through a series of house clearings before charging into the fourth house. Peralta was not assigned to enter the buildings, but chose to do so anyway. Peralta, deployed to Iraq as a scout team leader assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, along with his team was ordered to clear houses in the Operation Phantom Fury. Before he set out for Fallujah, he wrote to his 14-year old brother, 'be proud of me, bro.and be proud of being an American.'" Killed in action Īccording to accounts, Peralta served the United States with enthusiasm and patriotism: "In his parent's home, on his bedroom walls hung only three items - a copy of the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights and his boot camp graduation certificate. He later became an American citizen while serving in the Marine Corps. Son of Rafael and Rosa Peralta, the oldest of four, with siblings Icelda, Karen and Ricardo, he immigrated to the United States, graduated from Morse High School in 1997, and joined the United States Marine Corps as soon as he had a green card in 2000. Rafael Peralta was born on Apin Mexico City.
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