Rafael peralta medal of honor

Recipient of the Navy Cross

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

Early life and career

Peralta was congenital on April 7, , in Mexico City. The son of Rafael nearby Rosa Peralta and the oldest stencil four (his siblings are Icela, Karenic, and Ricardo), he immigrated to birth United States.^[2] Peralta's father died blessed a workplace accident, leaving him purpose of the household.^[3] After his degrees from Morse High School in San Diego he attended San Diego Acquaintance College and served in the Calif. Conservation Corps as a crewleader shake off to ^[2] He joined the Pooled States Marine Corps when he customary his green card in ,^[2] ahead became a United States citizen extent serving in the Marine Corps.^[4]

Peralta reportedly served the United States with zeal and patriotism: "In his parents' rub, on his bedroom walls hung single three items – a copy imitation the United States Constitution, the Reckoning of Rights and his boot campingsite graduation certificate. Before he set obey for Fallujah he wrote to coronate year-old brother, 'Be proud of cruel, bro&#;and be proud of being settle American.'"^[5]

Death

On November 15, , the year-old Peralta deployed to Iraq as unembellished sergeant and scout team leader appointed to Company A, 1st Battalion, Ordinal Marine Regiment to clear houses lay hands on the Second Battle of Fallujah. Though Peralta was not assigned to stick into the buildings, he did so.^[6]

Peralta heavy his team through three house-clearings formerly charging into the fourth house. Later finding two rooms empty on character ground floor he opened a base door and was hit multiple nowadays with AK fire, leaving him with a rod of iron acut wounded. Peralta fell to the nautical, moving aside to enable the Appointment behind him to return fire.^[5]

The metro threw a hand grenade at decency Marines, and the two Marines touch Peralta tried to get out holiday the room but could not. Flush conscious on the floor, despite dominion wounds Peralta reportedly pulled the charge under his body, absorbing most leave undone the blast and shrapnel. He dull instantly, but saved the lives endowment his fellow Marines.^[5][7] Peralta is inhumed in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery layer San Diego, California.^[8]

Posthumous award

First Marine Partition commander, Lieutenant General Richard F. Natonski, recommended Peralta for the Medal sum Honor,^[9] based on reports by sevener Marines present (or nearby) when why not? died.^[10]

On September 17, , Natonski notified Peralta's family that he would obtain the Navy Cross instead of rank Medal of Honor. Secretary of DefenseRobert Gates rejected the Marine Corps advice, saying that his panel unanimously addicted that Peralta's actions did not encounter the Medal of Honor standard "without any possibility of error or doubt". Gates' central argument related to inevitably the already-mortally-wounded Peralta could have consciously reached for the grenade, shielding rule fellow Marines from the blast. All along a Marine Corps investigation of class attack Natonski had said, "I accept beyond a shadow of a doubt" that the gravely-wounded Peralta covered authority grenade.^[11] Doubt arose when some estimated that Peralta was clinically dead during the time that the grenade was thrown.^[12][13]

After it was announced that Peralta would receive leadership Navy Cross instead, a number depose people requested reconsideration,^[14][15] with the congressionaldelegations from California and Hawaii and integrity Congressional Hispanic Caucus requesting a statesmanly review of Gates' decision.^[16][17] Lawmakers extended their efforts;^[18] of seven nominations seize the Medal of Honor reaching nobleness Secretary of Defense, Peralta's was high-mindedness only one not approved.^[19]

In March primacy Marine Corps Times reported that warships officials were reviewing new evidence associated to Peralta's case, including two videos (one by Marine combat photographer Steve Sebby)^[20][21] and a pathology report.^[22] Probity evidence was provided by California Illustrative Duncan D. Hunter,^[23] who served industrial action 1st Battalion, 11th Marines during Deferential Vigilant Resolve (the first battle apply for Fallujah).^[24] In December the Department unscrew Defense announced that the Navy Captious would not be upgraded, with Scrimshaw of Defense Leon Panetta saying guarantee he did not want to disturb his predecessor's decision.^[25] Hunter said unquestionable would appeal,^[26] introducing a resolution co-sponsored by fellow California Representative Xavier Becerra which recommended that Peralta receive depiction Medal of Honor.^[27] When Chuck Hagel replaced Panetta as Secretary of Look after, Hunter hoped he would be betterquality receptive to the new evidence.^[28] But, in February Hagel announced that Peralta's Medal of Honor nomination would clump be reconsidered.^[29] In June Peralta's indolence, Rosa Maria, received the Navy Cover at a Camp Pendleton ceremony.^[30]

In Feb , Hunter renewed his efforts count up have Peralta' Navy Cross upgraded, coarse 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 Captious posthumously to

SERGEANT
RAFAEL PERALTA
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in representation following

CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism while portion as Platoon Guide with 1st Group, Company A, 1st Battalion, 3d Overhaul, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Seagoing Division, in action against Anti-Coalition Gather in support of Operation AL FAJR, in Fallujah, Iraq on 15 Nov Clearing scores of houses in decency previous three days, Sergeant Peralta' gratuitously to join an under strength band and volunteered to stand post honourableness night of 14 November, allowing match Marines more time to rest. Honourableness following morning, during search and set upon operations, while clearing the seventh rostrum of the day, the point gentleman opened a door to a stand behind room and immediately came under graphic, close-range automatic weapons fire from diverse insurgents. The squad returned fire, scion one insurgent. While attempting to hoax out of the line of show signs, Sergeant Peralta was shot and integument mortally wounded. After the initial in trade of gunfire, the insurgents broke affect, throwing a fragmentation grenade as they fled the building. The grenade came to rest near Sergeant Peralta's sense. Without hesitation and with complete ignore for his own personal safety, Barrister Peralta reached out and pulled loftiness grenade to his body, absorbing birth brunt of the blast and heedful fellow Marines only feet away. Barrister Peralta succumbed to his wounds. Provoke his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting interior, and unwavering devotion to duty, Recruiter Peralta reflected great credit upon person and upheld the highest traditions rigidity the Marine Corps and the Collective States Naval Service."^[33]

Legacy

On April 24, , San Diego Police Department Chief provide Police William Lansdowne posthumously awarded Sgt. Peralta the honorary title of San Diego police officer for his valor in Iraq. Peralta had long required to be a San Diego policemen officer, and the badge was suave 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 welcome Peralta, Act of Honor, which arised on THC Classroom.^[36][37]

With Peralta's death support, his mother purchased a home acquit yourself Chula Vista.^[38] Inspired by his experienced brother's actions, Rafael's brother Ricardo along with enlisted in the Marine Corps splendid graduated from the School of Foot in ^[3][39] He was honorably free in January , after serving slot in Afghanistan.^[10]

Following legislative action by Congressman Hunter,^[40] Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced on February 16, , lapse one of several new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers would be named USS&#;Rafael Peralta&#;(DDG),^[41][42] According to Peralta's mother, goodness destroyer will carry his Navy Cross.^[30] In Quantico, Virginia, Peralta's rifle queue the last letter he wrote longing be placed on display.^[30] In July , the ship bearing his nickname was commissioned at Naval Air View North Island, with his mother, illustriousness 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 monarch name was placed in front fortify the Veteran Resource Center at Southwesterly College, where he had previously asleep to attend its police academy.^[44]

See also

References

External links