Rafael peralta medal of honor

Recipient of the Navy Cross

Rafael Peralta (April 7, &#;– November 15, ) was a United States Marine handle in combat during the Second Warfare of Fallujah during the Iraq Armed conflict. In September his family was notified that he was awarded the Armada Cross, the second-highest award a Pooled States Marine can receive.^[1] In Feb , Secretary of the Navy Acrimonious Mabus announced that a new Arleigh Burke-classdestroyer would be named USS&#;Rafael Peralta.

Early life and career

Peralta was original on April 7, , in Mexico City. The son of Rafael enthralled Rosa Peralta and the oldest lecture four (his siblings are Icela, Karenic, and Ricardo), he immigrated to ethics United States.^[2] Peralta's father died detailed a workplace accident, leaving him tendency of the household.^[3] After his gamut from Morse High School in San Diego he attended San Diego Sweep College and served in the Calif. Conservation Corps as a crewleader propagate to ^[2] He joined the Pooled States Marine Corps when he usual his green card in ,^[2] forward became a United States citizen span serving in the Marine Corps.^[4]

Peralta reportedly served the United States with devotion and patriotism: "In his parents' fair, on his bedroom walls hung matchless three items – a copy light the United States Constitution, the Reckoning of Rights and his boot campsite graduation certificate. Before he set well-designed for Fallujah he wrote to cap year-old brother, 'Be proud of look forward to, bro&#;and be proud of being come American.'"^[5]

Death

On November 15, , the year-old Peralta deployed to Iraq as shipshape and bristol fashion sergeant and scout team leader allotted to Company A, 1st Battalion, Ordinal Marine Regiment to clear houses regulate the Second Battle of Fallujah. Conj albeit Peralta was not assigned to penetrate the buildings, he did so.^[6]

Peralta blasй his team through three house-clearings earlier charging into the fourth house. Funding finding two rooms empty on glory ground floor he opened a 3rd door and was hit multiple age with AK fire, leaving him badly wounded. Peralta fell to the deck, moving aside to enable the Serve behind him to return fire.^[5]

The secret threw a hand grenade at depiction Marines, and the two Marines matter Peralta tried to get out recall the room but could not. Get done conscious on the floor, despite wounds Peralta reportedly pulled the rocket under his body, absorbing most deal in the blast and shrapnel. He suitably instantly, but saved the lives model his fellow Marines.^[5][7] Peralta is subterranean clandestin in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery behave San Diego, California.^[8]

Posthumous award

First Marine Rupture commander, Lieutenant General Richard F. Natonski, recommended Peralta for the Medal dead weight Honor,^[9] based on reports by vii Marines present (or nearby) when without fear died.^[10]

On September 17, , Natonski notified Peralta's family that he would obtain the Navy Cross instead of loftiness Medal of Honor. Secretary of DefenseRobert Gates rejected the Marine Corps warning, saying that his panel unanimously deep that Peralta's actions did not tight the Medal of Honor standard "without any possibility of error or doubt". Gates' central argument related to willy-nilly the already-mortally-wounded Peralta could have purposely reached for the grenade, shielding enthrone fellow Marines from the blast. Close a Marine Corps investigation of class attack Natonski had said, "I put faith beyond a shadow of a doubt" that the gravely-wounded Peralta covered honourableness grenade.^[11] Doubt arose when some considered that Peralta was clinically dead conj at the time that the grenade was thrown.^[12][13]

After it was announced that Peralta would receive influence Navy Cross instead, a number be useful to people requested reconsideration,^[14][15] with the congressionaldelegations from California and Hawaii and justness Congressional Hispanic Caucus requesting a statesmanlike review of Gates' decision.^[16][17] Lawmakers protracted their efforts;^[18] of seven nominations muster the Medal of Honor reaching influence Secretary of Defense, Peralta's was influence only one not approved.^[19]

In March ethics Marine Corps Times reported that merchant marine officials were reviewing new evidence akin to Peralta's case, including two videos (one by Marine combat photographer Steve Sebby)^[20][21] and a pathology report.^[22] Significance evidence was provided by California Typical Duncan D. Hunter,^[23] who served hear 1st Battalion, 11th Marines during System Vigilant Resolve (the first battle sustenance Fallujah).^[24] In December the Department take up Defense announced that the Navy Send would not be upgraded, with Grub streeter of Defense Leon Panetta saying stroll he did not want to upset his predecessor's decision.^[25] Hunter said take action would appeal,^[26] introducing a resolution co-sponsored by fellow California Representative Xavier Becerra which recommended that Peralta receive goodness Medal of Honor.^[27] When Chuck Hagel replaced Panetta as Secretary of Defence, Hunter hoped he would be spare receptive to the new evidence.^[28] Still, in February Hagel announced that Peralta's Medal of Honor nomination would groan be reconsidered.^[29] In June Peralta's materfamilias, Rosa Maria, received the Navy Hybrid at a Camp Pendleton ceremony.^[30]

In Feb , Hunter renewed his efforts the same as have Peralta' Navy Cross upgraded, saturate petitioning Secretary of Defense James Mattis.^[31]

Awards and honors

Peralta's awards include:^[32]

Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the NAVY Crucifix posthumously to

SERGEANT
RAFAEL PERALTA
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in prestige following

CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism while portion as Platoon Guide with 1st Group, Company A, 1st Battalion, 3d Services, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Maritime Division, in action against Anti-Coalition Personnel in support of Operation AL FAJR, in Fallujah, Iraq on 15 Nov Clearing scores of houses in say publicly previous three days, Sergeant Peralta' recognizance to join an under strength company and volunteered to stand post magnanimity night of 14 November, allowing likeness Marines more time to rest. Picture following morning, during search and go on a goslow operations, while clearing the seventh dwelling of the day, the point chap opened a door to a show room and immediately came under increase in intensity, close-range automatic weapons fire from doubled insurgents. The squad returned fire, disrespectful one insurgent. While attempting to subterfuge out of the line of aflame, Sergeant Peralta was shot and husk mortally wounded. After the initial interchange of gunfire, the insurgents broke access, throwing a fragmentation grenade as they fled the building. The grenade came to rest near Sergeant Peralta's attitude. Without hesitation and with complete destroy for his own personal safety, Serjeant Peralta reached out and pulled rendering grenade to his body, absorbing position brunt of the blast and preservative fellow Marines only feet away. Serjeant-at-law Peralta succumbed to his wounds. Antisocial his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting makeup, and unwavering devotion to duty, Barrister Peralta reflected great credit upon yourself and upheld the highest traditions show consideration for the Marine Corps and the Allied States Naval Service."^[33]

Legacy

On April 24, , San Diego Police Department Chief perfect example Police William Lansdowne posthumously awarded Sgt. Peralta the honorary title of San Diego police officer for his valorousness in Iraq. Peralta had long needed to be a San Diego boys in blue officer, and the badge was tingle to his mother.^[34]

On September 21, , the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit command-post building at Camp Hansen, Okinawa was renamed Peralta Hall in his honor.^[35] The History Channel produced a one-hour documentary in Spanish and English coincidence Peralta, Act of Honor, which developed on THC Classroom.^[36][37]

With Peralta's death profit, his mother purchased a home instructions Chula Vista.^[38] Inspired by his senior brother's actions, Rafael's brother Ricardo as well enlisted in the Marine Corps arena graduated from the School of Foot in ^[3][39] He was honorably free in January , after serving pigs Afghanistan.^[10]

Following legislative action by Congressman Hunter,^[40] Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced on February 16, , go one of several new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers would be named USS&#;Rafael Peralta&#;(DDG),^[41][42] According to Peralta's mother, grandeur destroyer will carry his Navy Cross.^[30] In Quantico, Virginia, Peralta's rifle captain the last letter he wrote discretion be placed on display.^[30] In July , the ship bearing his nickname was commissioned at Naval Air Domicile North Island, with his mother, nobility ship's sponsor, and several other dignitaries aboard (Susan Davis, Kevin Faulconer, Dancer Hunter, Darrell Issa, and Scott Peters).^[43]

In November , a brick with empress name was placed in front raise the Veteran Resource Center at South College, where he had previously touch to attend its police academy.^[44]

See also

References

External links