Marine not receiving his MOH, instead a Navy Cross

greenberetTFS · 09-18-2008, 16:05

SAN DIEGO (Sept. 18) - A Marine sergeant singled out by President Bush for throwing his body on a grenade to save his comrades in Iraq will receive the prestigious Navy Cross rather than the nation's highest military award, military officials said.
The family of Sgt. Rafael Peralta, who was posthumously nominated for the nation's highest military honor, told the North County Times of Escondido, Calif., they were disappointed he was not receiving the Medal of Honor.
Sgt. Rafael Peralta
U.S. Marines / AP

Sgt. Rafael Peralta

"I don't understand why if the president has been talking about him," his mother, Rosa Peralta, told the newspaper, which was the first to report the bestowing of the Navy Cross.
Rosa Peralta said she was informed during a meeting with Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Richard Natonski that a committee could not agree on awarding the Medal of Honor to her son, who Marine Corps officials say was first wounded by friendly fire. She said the general mentioned the friendly fire aspect as part of her son's death during the discussion.
Marine Corps spokesman Mike Alvarez confirmed the meeting, saying only that it was a personal briefing between Natonski and Rosa Peralta to inform her that the secretary of the Navy would award the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism.
The Navy Cross is the second highest honor for combat heroism a Marine can receive.
The secretary of the Navy's public affairs office in Washington, D.C., did not immediately return an after-hours telephone call Wednesday seeking comment.
Headquarters Marine Corps spokesman Maj. David Nevers told The Associated Press that the Navy Cross for Peralta "is not bestowed lightly."
Nevers said only 23 sailors and Marines out of the thousands who have served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have received the Navy Cross.
"The awarding of a medals of valor is a methodical process and carefully conducted to ensure the sacrifice and service of our Marines and sailors is appropriately honored," he said.
Peralta was shot several times in the face and body during a house-to-house search in Fallujah on Nov. 15, 2004, during some of the fiercest fighting of the war.
According to a report by a Marine combat photographer who witnessed the act, Peralta lay wounded on the floor of a house and grabbed a grenade that had been lobbed by an insurgent. He absorbed the blast with his body, dying instantly.
In 2005, Natonski, then-commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, ordered an investigation to determine the source of a bullet fragment recovered from Peralta's body.
"Following multiple and exhaustive reviews, the evidence supports the finding that Peralta was likely hit by 'friendly fire,'" the Marine Corps said Wednesday in a press release. "This finding had no bearing on the decision to award the Navy Cross medal."
Bush cited Peralta's heroism in a Memorial Day speech in 2005, saying the Marine "understood that America faces dangerous enemies, and he knew the sacrifices required to defeat them."
Peralta, who was assigned to Hawaii's 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, moved to San Diego from Tijuana as a teenager. He was 25........

echoes · 09-18-2008, 16:14

May You Rest-In-Peace Sgt. Peralta.

Thoughts and prayers for Your family, and for Your service and sacrifice.

Holly

PSM · 09-18-2008, 16:54

Quote:

Peralta, who was assigned to Hawaii's 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, moved to San Diego from Tijuana as a teenager. He was 25.......

I heard that Sgt. Peralta joined the Marines one day after getting his Green Card. We need more like him.

Pat

FMF DOC · 09-18-2008, 17:00

"Following multiple and exhaustive reviews, the evidence supports the finding that Peralta was likely hit by 'friendly fire,'" the Marine Corps said Wednesday in a press release. "This finding had no bearing on the decision to award the Navy Cross medal."

One I was in Fallujha during this incident and have read other reports and talked with Marines who were there that once they fellback from the house without their fallen comrade they poured an unbelievable amount of fire into the house thinking that he was already dead. I think that could explain why he may have had some friendly rounds in him. And if it was witnessed that he pulled the grenade into his body it's hard to argue that that was not the cause of death... Hero in my book no matter what.

RIP

BlackDragon0311 · 09-18-2008, 17:03

Me and my fellow Marines have talked about this a bit....I honestly am a bit dumb-founded as to why he's not getting the MOH.

My last unit, 3/7 had a certain Corporal in it, Jason Dunham, the first Marine to get the MOH since vietnam for doing almost the EXACT SAME THING. A insurgent threw a gernade and Dunham threw his kevlar ontop of it and then threw himself ontop of it ibefore it detonated. He survived for a few days but finally sucumbed to his injuries. I later read about a Navy Seal in Ramadi (again, my old stomping grounds with 3/7) who threw himself on a gernade and was awarded the MOH. I'm wondering why this Marine, this fallen warrior and true American hero, is not being given the MOH like these other two warriors?

The report is saying that he did sustain friendly fire wounds during the course of the battle, but that that did not have any impact on the decision of those in charge to not award him the MOH, so again, why?

I find it funny, cause in the course of our discussion a fellow Marine told me he had once heard a general comment that Marines E-1 to E-4 didnt rate the MOH regardless of action. How, if ever, am I supposed to put any faith in leadership that thinks because of my rank my valor and commitment to my Corps and country are not as strong as someone who has a few more stripes than me? Just irk's me is all, but regardless, he fought as a warrior, died like one, and his sacrafice will not be forgotten. Rest in peace Marine, Semper Fi.

~JohnnyBoy

echoes · 09-18-2008, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackDragon0311

Me and my fellow Marines have talked about this a bit....I honestly am a bit dumb-founded as to why he's not getting the MOH.

My last unit, 3/7 had a certain Corporal in it, Jason Dunham, the first Marine to get the MOH since vietnam for doing almost the EXACT SAME THING. A insurgent threw a gernade and Dunham threw his kevlar ontop of it and then threw himself ontop of it ibefore it detonated. He survived for a few days but finally sucumbed to his injuries. I later read about a Navy Seal in Ramadi (again, my old stomping grounds with 3/7) who threw himself on a gernade and was awarded the MOH. I'm wondering why this Marine, this fallen warrior and true American hero, is not being given the MOH like these other two warriors?

The report is saying that he did sustain friendly fire wounds during the course of the battle, but that that did not have any impact on the decision of those in charge to not award him the MOH, so again, why?

I find it funny, cause in the course of our discussion a fellow Marine told me he had once heard a general comment that Marines E-1 to E-4 didnt rate the MOH regardless of action. How, if ever, am I supposed to put any faith in leadership that thinks because of my rank my valor and commitment to my Corps and country are not as strong as someone who has a few more stripes than me? Just irk's me is all, but regardless, he fought as a warrior, died like one, and his sacrafice will not be forgotten. Rest in peace Marine, Semper Fi.

~JohnnyBoy

Sir, am just one tiny little American, but I wanted to say Thank You, for your service and your sacrifice.

Holly

JJ_BPK · 09-18-2008, 17:25

RIP, Sgt. Peralta

BlackDragon0311 · 09-18-2008, 17:47

Thank you for your appreciation and thanks Holly, but its those that gave the ultimate sacrafice and those that are still in country that need the most thanks. Honor me and everyone on here by honoring them, and never forgetting, ever.

~JohnnyBoy

kgoerz · 09-19-2008, 05:08

RIP, Sgt. Peralta

One of my bosses is very familiar with the MOH Awarding process. He said unfortunately it's very political. People who know nothing of being in Combat have input in the decision.

JJ_BPK · 09-19-2008, 05:36

I hope this young man's courageous act does not turn into a circus.

This FOX report does not bode well for Stg Peralta, his family, and the Corps....

Quote:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,425143,00.html

Mother of Marine Who Fell on Enemy Grenade to Make Son's Case for Medal of Honor

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The mother of a Marine who witnesses say covered a grenade with his body to save comrades in Iraq plans to appeal to Congress to award her son the nation's highest military honor after learning it was denied by Defense Secretary Robert Gates because of questions about his final act.

Rosa Peralta said Thursday she made the decision after a Marine general told her that her son, Sgt. Rafael Peralta, would be awarded the Navy Cross rather than the Medal of Honor because the nomination was tainted by reports he was accidentally shot by a fellow Marine shortly before an insurgent lobbed the grenade.

God Bless..

kgoerz · 09-19-2008, 15:05

Weather it's the Soldier or a Family member. It rubs me the wrong way when either of them demands a Medal higher then they were awarded. I also hope this brave Marines sacrifice isn't over shadowed by the oncoming Circus. I cant even imagine what it is like to lose a Son. But there are plenty of other Mothers who have lost Sons and Daughters who have wept in silence. This has the makings of another Cindy Sheehan. I am sure the MSM will be all over it.

greenberetTFS · 09-19-2008, 15:40

I've never been a Marine,so I may be out of line for saying this,however this most courageous act of valor should not be left up to the Gates appointed panel to finally decide. I believe that this decision should be made by "The Medal of Honor Society". These men are far more qualified to judge the actions of this heroic young Marine. His name is definitely synonymous with valor. From what I've read and heard this is a terrible moral hit for the Corp. SGT Peralta is still a hero and not receiving the Medal of Honor won't change what he did out there. Semper Fi ,Marine.......

**Kyobanim** · 09-19-2008, 21:20

From http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26796833/

Quote:

The initial recommendation that he receive the Medal of Honor went through reviews by the Marine Corps, U.S. Central Command, the Department of the Navy and, ultimately, Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

After all the evidence was scrutinized, officials determined the nomination did not meet the standard necessary to support the Medal of Honor, said Capt. Beci Brenton, spokeswoman for Navy Secretary Donald Winter.

Defense Department officials have said that because there was some contradictory evidence, Gates took the extra step of asking for a review by a panel consisting of a former commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, a Medal of Honor recipient, a civilian neurosurgeon who is retired from the military and two forensic pathologists who also are military retirees.

The panel recommended against the Medal of Honor, and Gates made the decision this month, officials said.

The civilian neurosurgeon and two forensic pathologists on the panel makes a lot of sense after reading the article.

greenberetTFS · 09-20-2008, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyobanim

From http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26796833/

The civilian neurosurgeon and two forensic pathologists on the panel makes a lot of sense after reading the article.

Kyobanim,

The problem I have with the panel is that they weren't there! The Marines that were there and gave their "eye witness" testimony was disregarded........I mean no disrespect to neurosurgeons. However one in the VA made a mistake in reading my head scan which was later stated as a "false-positive"......

GB TFS

GB TFS

BlackDragon0311 · 09-20-2008, 10:17

me and my fellow Marines here in maryland are for the most part still livid at how this fallen warrior is being, in my opinion dis-respected, for this courageous action. The navy cross is a great honor, but he clearly deserves the MOH, and politics getting in the way just boils my blood, it most definatly as far as I can tell being a active Marine NCO a moral hit to the Corps as a whole, because its sending the message that even though ur warriors, the storm troopers and shock troops of the US Military, that when it comes down to it, politics rules, and damn the rest of it regardless of your sacrafice. As you can all tell i'm clearly ticked about this, especially being a Marine myself...its a very, very sad thing for me to say, but it isn't like the good ole days a few years back, this isn't the Corps I came into, and it sure as hell isn't the Corps I re-enlisted to stay in. This just proves that point one more time for me....regardless, I sure as hell wont forget this Marines sacrafice and valiant honor, and neither will those of us who know what its like to be there. Semper Fi brother, have ole Chesty buy you a beer when u reach the gates of heaven, and take ur place guarding heaven's streets with the rest of your fellow warriors.