Rafael Peralta Explained

Rafael Peralta
Birth Date:7 April 1979
Birth Place:Mexico City, Mexico
Death Place:Fallujah, Iraq
Placeofburial:Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Marine Corps
Serviceyears:2000–2004
Rank:Sergeant
Unit:1st Battalion, 3rd Marines
Battles:Iraq War
Awards:Navy Cross
Purple Heart

Rafael Peralta (April 7, 1979 – November 15, 2004) was a United States Marine killed in combat during the Second Battle of Fallujah during the Iraq War. In September 2008 his family was notified that he was awarded the Navy Cross, the second-highest award a United States Marine can receive.[1] In February 2012, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that a new would be named .

Early life and career

Peralta was born on April 7, 1979, in Mexico City. The son of Rafael and Rosa Peralta and the oldest of four (his siblings are Icela, Karen, and Ricardo), he immigrated to the United States. Peralta's father died in a workplace accident, leaving him head of the household. After his 1997 graduation from Morse High School in San Diego he attended San Diego City College and served in the California Conservation Corps as a crewleader from 1998 to 1999.[2] He joined the United States Marine Corps when he received his green card in 2000,[2] and became a United States citizen while serving in the Marine Corps.[3]

Peralta reportedly served the United States with enthusiasm and patriotism: "In his parents' 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. 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.'"[4]

Death

On November 15, 2004, the 25-year-old Peralta deployed to Iraq as a sergeant and scout team leader assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment to clear houses in the Second Battle of Fallujah. Although Peralta was not assigned to enter the buildings, he did so.[5]

Peralta led his team through three house-clearings before charging into the fourth house. After finding two rooms empty on the ground floor he opened a third door and was hit multiple times with AK-47 fire, leaving him severely wounded. Peralta fell to the floor, moving aside to enable the Marines behind him to return fire.[4]

The insurgents threw a hand grenade at the Marines, and the two Marines with Peralta tried to get out of the room but could not. Still conscious on the floor, despite his wounds Peralta reportedly pulled the grenade under his body, absorbing most of the blast and shrapnel. He died instantly, but saved the lives of his fellow Marines.[4] [6] Peralta is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.[7]

Posthumous award

First Marine Division commander, Lieutenant General Richard F. Natonski, recommended Peralta for the Medal of Honor,[8] based on reports by seven Marines present (or nearby) when he died.[9]

On September 17, 2008, Natonski notified Peralta's family that he would receive the Navy Cross instead of the Medal of Honor. 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". Gates' central argument related to whether the already-mortally-wounded Peralta could have intentionally reached for the grenade, shielding his fellow Marines from the blast. During a Marine Corps investigation of the attack Natonski had said, "I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt" that the gravely-wounded Peralta covered the grenade.[10] Doubt arose when some believed that Peralta was clinically dead when the grenade was thrown.[11] [12]

After it was announced that Peralta would receive the Navy Cross instead, a number of people requested reconsideration,[13] [14] with the congressional delegations from California and Hawaii and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus requesting a presidential review of Gates' decision.[15] [16] Lawmakers continued their efforts;[17] of seven nominations for the Medal of Honor reaching the Secretary of Defense, Peralta's was the only one not approved.[18]

In March 2012 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)[19] [20] and a pathology report.[21] The evidence was provided by California Representative Duncan D. Hunter,[22] who served with 1st Battalion, 11th Marines during Operation Vigilant Resolve (the first battle for Fallujah).[23] In December 2012 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.[24] Hunter said he would appeal,[25] introducing a resolution co-sponsored by fellow California Representative Xavier Becerra which recommended that Peralta receive the Medal of Honor.[26] When Chuck Hagel replaced Panetta as Secretary of Defense, Hunter hoped he would be more receptive to the new evidence.[27] However, in February 2014 Hagel announced that Peralta's Medal of Honor nomination would not be reconsidered.[28] In June 2015 Peralta's mother, Rosa Maria, received the Navy Cross at a Camp Pendleton ceremony.[29]

In February 2017, Hunter renewed his efforts to have Peralta' Navy Cross upgraded, by petitioning Secretary of Defense James Mattis.[30]

Awards and honors

Peralta's awards include:[31]

1st rowNavy CrossPurple HeartCombat Action Ribbon
2nd rowMarine Corps Good Conduct MedalNational Defense Service MedalIraq Campaign Medal with campaign star
3rd rowGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

Navy Cross citation

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

Legacy

On April 24, 2006, San Diego Police Department Chief of Police William Lansdowne posthumously awarded Sgt. Peralta the honorary title of San Diego police officer for his heroism in Iraq. Peralta had long wanted to be a San Diego police officer, and the badge was presented to his mother.[32]

On September 21, 2007, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit command-post building 2533 at Camp Hansen, Okinawa was renamed Peralta Hall in his honor.[33] The History Channel produced a one-hour documentary in Spanish and English about Peralta, Act of Honor, which appeared on THC Classroom.[34] [35]

With Peralta's death benefit, his mother purchased a home in Chula Vista.[36] Inspired by his older brother's actions, Rafael's brother Ricardo also enlisted in the Marine Corps and graduated from the School of Infantry in 2010.[37] [38] He was honorably discharged in January 2014, after serving in Afghanistan.[9]

Following legislative action by Congressman Hunter,[39] Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced on February 16, 2012, that one of several new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers would be named,[40] [41] According to Peralta's mother, the destroyer will carry his Navy Cross.[29] In Quantico, Virginia, Peralta's rifle and the last letter he wrote will be placed on display.[29] In July 2017, the ship bearing his name was commissioned at Naval Air Station North Island, with his mother, the ship's sponsor, and several other dignitaries aboard (Susan Davis, Kevin Faulconer, Duncan Hunter, Darrell Issa, and Scott Peters).[42]

In November 2017, a brick with his name was placed in front of the Veteran Resource Center at Southwestern College, where he had previously gone to attend its police academy.[43]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2008-09-18 . Peralta to be given Navy Cross posthumously — No Medal of Honor for sergeant hit by 'friendly fire' . Marine Corps Times . September 17, 2008 . Fuentes, Gidget . https://web.archive.org/web/20080922010659/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/09/marine_peralta_navycross_091708/ . 2008-09-22 . dead .
  2. News: Caitlin . Rother . Caitlin Rother . Another tragedy for grieving family . San Diego Union Tribune . Union-Tribune Publishing Co. . November 21, 2004 . August 4, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150629184345/http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041121/news_1m21peralta.html . 2015-06-29 . live .
  3. News: Citizenship through military service . Emilio . Gonzalez . San Diego Union Tribune . 22 August 2006 . 17 December 2012 . Peralta enlisted the same day he received his green card and earned his citizenship while on active duty. . https://web.archive.org/web/20150522085620/http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060822/news_lz1e22gonzale.html . 2015-05-22 . live .
  4. Web site: Oliver. North. Oliver North. Hero in Fallujah: Marine Laid Himself on Top of Grenade to Save Rest of Squad. 2004-12-16. HumanEvents.com. 2006-05-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20131012145128/http://www.humanevents.com/2004/12/16/hero-in-fallujah-marine-laid-himself-on-top-of-grenade-to-save-rest-of-squad/. 2013-10-12. live.
  5. News: Marine sacrifices his life for others in grenade blast . Trowbridge, Gordon . Seattle Times . 20 November 2004 . 15 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120309111412/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002096428_hero20.html . 2012-03-09 . live .
  6. Ephron . Dan . Where's the Respect? . February 11, 2008 . . 2008-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080204192357/http://www.newsweek.com/id/107585 . 2008-02-04 . live .
  7. News: What Happened to Valor? . Kathrine Zoepf . . 27 May 2010 . 15 March 2012 . Peralta is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. . https://web.archive.org/web/20121129145218/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/magazine/30medals-t.html?pagewanted=all . 2012-11-29 . live .
  8. News: Jennifer Hlad . No medal upgrade for Marine who will receive Navy Cross in June . Stars and Stripes . 21 May 2015 . 21 May 2015 . Lt. Gen. Richard Natonski, who at the time was commander of 1st Marine Division, recommended Peralta for the Medal of Honor. . https://web.archive.org/web/20150522105901/http://www.stripes.com/news/us/no-medal-upgrade-for-marine-who-will-receive-navy-cross-in-june-1.347670 . 2015-05-22 . live .
    News: Chelsea J. Carter . Associated Press . Mother to ask Congress to award son Medal of Honor . USA Today . 19 September 2008 . 21 May 2015 . In a rare move, the Marine Corps Thursday released a redacted copy of the Medal of Honor nomination by Lt. Gen. Richard Natonski and an investigative report detailing the "friendly fire" shooting of the sergeant. .
  9. News: Gretel C. Kovach . Peralta report rekindles medal debate . San Diego Union Tribune . 25 February 2014 . 21 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150630023314/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/feb/24/peralta-legacy-accusations-medal/#comments-module . 2015-06-30 . live .
  10. Web site: 2008-09-18. No Medal of Honor for Kaneohe Marine. Zoroya, Gregg. Honolulu Advertiser. September 17, 2008.
  11. News: White House Considers Another Nominee for the Medal of Honor . Julian E. . Barnes . . 12 July 2011 . 13 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140303033316/http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/07/12/white-house-considers-another-nominee-for-the-medal-of-honor/ . 2014-03-03 . live .
  12. News: IRAQ: No change for Sgt. Peralta, Navy secretary says . Tony . Perry . . 15 October 2008 . 13 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104134916/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/10/in-an-appearanc.html#more . 2012-11-04 . live .
  13. News: 2008-09-05. Former Marine protests Peralta MoH denial. Fuentes, Gidget. October 5, 2008. Marine Corps Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20081121194425/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/10/marine_protest_100408w/. 2008-11-21. live.
  14. Web site: 2008-10-05. Honor or insult for a fallen Marine? Marine who smothered grenade deserved Medal of Honor, family says, but he got the Navy Cross. Lamothe, Dan. September 30, 2008. Marine Corps Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20081001131110/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/09/marine_peralta_092808/. 2008-10-01. live.
  15. News: 2008-09-05. Lawmakers ask Bush to review Peralta award: Seek highest honor for Marine. Fuentes, Gidget. September 23, 2008. Marine Corps Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20080923152418/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/09/marine_peralta_navycross_091908/. 2008-09-23. live.
  16. News: More members of Congress ask for Peralta review. Cole, William. The Honolulu Advertiser. Republished in the Marine Corps Times. October 1, 2008.
  17. News: Mark. Walker. MILITARY: Lawmakers not giving up on Marine denied Medal of Honor. article. North County Times. Escondido. 2009-01-05. 2009-01-17.
    News: Walker . Mark . MILITARY: Hunter presses Peralta Medal of Honor case . North County Times . 2009-01-30 . 2009-01-31 . ; News: Citing Peralta, lawmaker seeks MOH review . Marine Corps Times . Army Times Publishing Company . 2009-01-30 . 2009-01-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090211110029/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/01/marine_duncan_hunter_013009w/ . 2009-02-11 . live . ; News: Cole . William . City urges Obama to review Marine's case . The Honolulu Advertiser . 2009-01-30 . 2009-01-31 . ; News: New video evidence submitted for Peralta medal nomination: Navy Secretary reviewing Medal of Honor resubmission . Gretel C. Kovach . . 15 March 2012 . 15 March 2012 . https://www.webcitation.org/6QO9woEFB?url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/mar/15/new-video-evidence-submitted-peralta-medal-nominat/ . 2014-06-17 . live .
  18. News: Kevin . Freking . Lawmaker questions low Medal of Honor count . Associated Press . August 2, 2009 . August 4, 2009 . It's unclear exactly how many soldiers have been nominated for the award from the two wars. But, seven have made it all the way to the secretary of defense, and six were approved. The exception is Sgt. Rafael Peralta of San Diego, Calif. Hunter said the Peralta case shows that a higher standard is being used for the medal than in previous wars. .
  19. News: Video evidence submitted in Peralta medal push . Gretel C. Kovach . San Diego Union Tribune . 15 March 2012 . 17 December 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150630020137/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/mar/15/new-video-evidence-submitted-peralta-medal-nominat/ . 2015-06-30 . live .
  20. News: Top medal denied twice to Marine . Stephen Dinan . Stephen Dinan . 12 December 2012 . 17 December 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150520080241/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/12/panetta-denies-medal-honor-marine-dived-grenade/?page=all . 2015-05-20 . live .
  21. News: 2012-10-28. Navy reopens Marine Corps Medal of Honor case. Cavallaro, Gina. March 20, 2012. Marine Corps Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20130108173753/http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/03/marine-corps-navy-department-reopens-rafael-peralta-medal-of-honor-case-032012/. 2013-01-08. live.
  22. News: Medal of Honor Review Expected to Finish Soon . John . Wilkens . San Diego Union Tribune . 16 November 2012 . 16 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140226194021/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/16/tp-medal-of-honor-review-expected-to-finish-soon/ . 2014-02-26 . live .
  23. News: Military Call Disrupts Hunters' House Plans . Scott Horsley . NPR . 18 April 2007 . 16 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140226202736/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9642169 . 2014-02-26 . live .
  24. News: Hunter: No Medal of Honor for Peralta . John Wilkens . San Diego Union Tribune . 12 December 2012 . 17 December 2012.
  25. News: Peralta Deserves Medal of Honor for Heroism . Duncan Hunter . San Diego Union Tribune . 16 December 2012 . 17 December 2012.
  26. News: Lawmaker won't leave Peralta behind: Rep. Duncan Hunter won't quit in quest for Medal of Honor for fallen Marine . Mark Walker . San Diego Union Tribune . 16 January 2013 . 16 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140226200644/http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/16/lawmaker-refuses-to-yield-on-peralta-award/ . 2014-02-26 . live .
  27. News: New Medal of Honor push started for Peralta . Dan Lamothe . Marine Corps Times . 4 March 2013 . 22 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140228215703/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20130304/NEWS/303040317/New-Medal-of-Honor-push-started-for-Peralta . 2014-02-28 . live .
  28. News: Perry . Tony . 21 February 2014 . Hagel refuses to reopen Medal of Honor bid for Sgt. Rafael Peralta . . 22 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150916012727/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-medal-of-honor-rejected-sgt-rafael-peralta-20140221-story.html . 2015-09-16 . live .
  29. News: Kovach . Gretel C. . 8 June 2015 . Peraltas: Navy Cross medal 'bittersweet' . San Diego Union Tribune . 10 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150630013703/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/jun/08/peralta-navy-cross-ceremony-camp-pendleton/ . 2015-06-30 . live .
  30. News: Prine . Carl . 7 February 2017 . San Diego Union-Tribune . Mattis Could Award Medal Of Honor To Marine Hero Rafael Peralta . Task & Purpose . 2 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170303201852/http://taskandpurpose.com/mattis-award-medal-honor-marine-hero-rafael-peralta/ . 2017-03-03 . live .
    News: Llorente . Elizabeth . 7 February 2017 . 'He earned it': Lawmaker fights for Medal of Honor for Marine who died in Fallujah . Fox News . 2 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170303203034/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/02/07/earned-it-lawmaker-fights-for-medal-honor-for-marine-who-died-in-fallujah.html . 2017-03-03 . live .
    News: Myers . Meghann . 1 February 2017 . Congressman asks Trump to pardon imprisoned Army officer . ArmyTimes . 2 March 2017 . He is also working on the case of Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta, who was killed in combat in 2004 but denied the Medal of Honor for his actions. .
  31. Web site: House Concurrent Resolution 19 HD1. 2009. 25th Legislature. Hawaii House of Representatives. 2009-08-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20091116041609/http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/Bills/HCR19_HD1_.pdf. 2009-11-16. live.
  32. 2008-09-18. San Diego Police Honors Fallen Marine. April 28, 2006. Flight Jacket. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. 8. 17. https://web.archive.org/web/20070330101813/http://www.miramar.usmc.mil/WebPages/PAO/Documents/2006FJ/April28.pdf. 2007-03-30. live.
  33. News: 2014-06-16. Mandeville native hopes to see fellow Marine posthumously awarded Medal of Honor. Mathews. Kenneth. January 31, 2014. The Times-Picayune. https://web.archive.org/web/20150629234815/http://www.nola.com/community/st-tammany/index.ssf/2014/01/mandeville_native_hopes_to_see.html. 2015-06-29. live.
  34. Web site: 2008-09-18. Act of Honor. THC Classroom. The History Channel.
  35. Web site: Act of Honor. es. The History Channel. https://web.archive.org/web/20070811031636/http://historyenespanol.com/espanol/elhonor/aoh_videos.jsp. 2007-08-11. live.
  36. News: Perry . Tony . Doubt cast over circumstances of San Diego Marine's 2004 death . Los Angeles Times . 22 February 2014 . 21 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150522115710/http://articles.latimes.com/2014/feb/22/local/la-me-ln-doubt-cast-over-circumstances-of-marines-death-20140222 . 2015-05-22 . live .
  37. News: Dan Lamothe . Peralta brother carries on legacy as Marine . Marine Corps Times . 17 August 2010 . 21 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150630000154/http://archive.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20100817/NEWS/8170314/Peralta-brother-carries-legacy-Marine . 2015-06-30 . live .
  38. News: Tony Perry . Marine hero's brother makes good on his promise . Los Angeles Times . 12 July 2010 . 21 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150522091347/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/12/local/la-me-marine-brother-20100710 . 2015-05-22 . live .
  39. News: Naming of warships causing dissent in Congress . Gary Robbins . San Diego Union Tribune . 8 December 2011 . 22 December 2011.
  40. News: Navy To Name Ships After Servicemen With Local Ties . KGTV San Diego . 15 February 2012 . 16 February 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140715131943/http://www.10news.com/news/navy-to-name-ships-after-servicemen-with-local-ties . 2014-07-15 . live .
  41. News: Navy to name ships after three San Diego war heroes . Tony . Perry . . 15 February 2012 . 16 February 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150702014214/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/navy-name-ships-san-diego-heroes.html . 2 July 2015 . live .
  42. News: Prine . Carl . 29 July 2017 . Named for a San Diego hero, Navy's newest destroyer reports for duty . San Diego Union-Tribune . 17 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180318120417/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/military/sd-me-peralta-commission-20170729-story.html . 2018-03-18 . live .
    News: Mulvehill . Scott . 26 February 2018 . The State Of The Base . Coronado Eagle & Journal . 17 March 2018 .
  43. News: Arcega-Dunn . Maria . City News Service . 7 November 2017 . Southwestern College dedicates garden in honor of Sgt. Rafael Peralta . KSWB . San Diego . 17 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180318003255/http://fox5sandiego.com/2017/11/07/southwestern-college-dedicates-garden-in-honor-of-sgt-rafael-peralta/ . 2018-03-18 . live .

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