MILITARY: White House mum on Marine denied Medal of Honor
Family of Sgt. Rafael Peralta, lawmakers still waiting for response to call for review
By MARK WALKER - Staff Writer | ∞
The White House has yet to respond to appeals to reopen the case of a San Diego Marine who, witnesses say, used his body to shield fellow troops from a grenade but was denied a Medal of Honor.
More than two dozen members of Congress, including California's two U.S. senators, asked the Bush administration last month to take a second look at a Defense Department decision denying the medal to the late Sgt. Rafael Peralta.
The Marine Corps announced Sept. 18 that Peralta instead would be posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions in the Iraqi city of Fallujah on Nov. 15, 2004.
The Navy Cross is the second-highest award a Marine can earn for valor in combat.
That outraged Marines who were with Peralta and his unit, which was attached to Camp Pendleton's 1st Marine Division.
The Marines said they have no doubt his actions were deliberate and saved their lives.
The Marine Corps and the Department of Navy had agreed on the Medal of Honor nomination for Peralta, who emigrated with his family from Tijuana at age 15.
The medal was denied by a special panel appointed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
The Defense Department said a medical specialist concluded that Peralta, who had been shot in the head before witnesses say he reached for the grenade, was too incapacitated to have consciously carried out that act.
In the wake of that decision, San Diego's congressional delegation and the state's senators wrote a letter to Bush asking for a review.
Hawaii's congressional delegation and the 21 members of the House of Representatives' Hispanic Caucus subsequently added their names to the cause.
Peralta's unit was based in Hawaii.
The White House press office did not respond to calls seeking comment on the review request.
Joe Kasper, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, and the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said Friday that the congressional offices also have not heard anything from the White House.
In a prepared statement, Hunter said he remains convinced Peralta is a "national hero."
"The Navy Cross citation acknowledges he deliberately used his body to shield the grenade blast," Hunter said. "There should be no question about which recognition Sergeant Peralta deserves."
George Sabga, a San Diego attorney who has been working with the Peralta family, said Friday that he believes the decision against the Medal of Honor stems from the conclusion that Peralta died when a bullet fired by a fellow Marine ricocheted and struck him in the head.
"I think it's all because of the friendly fire part of it," Sabga said, adding that the Peralta family has petitioned the Defense Department for every document associated with the decision, including all those generated or examined by the Gates-appointed review panel.
The strong emotions the Peralta decision has generated were in part fueled by Bush having singled him out during a 2005 Memorial Day speech.
The president that day said Peralta "understood that America faces dangerous enemies, and he knew the sacrifices required to defeat them."
The controversy was further stoked by the Marine Corps Times in its Sept. 29 edition. The newspaper featured the story on its front page with the large headline "Not Good Enough" and a smaller headline asking "What the hell happened?"
Inside the independently owned paper was a three-page story. The only editorial in that week's edition said Peralta had earned the Medal of Honor.
The editorial also castigated Gates, who it said had tried to "read the mind of a Marine who died defending freedom" and "reduced the prestigious Navy Cross to a mere consolation prize."
Peralta is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma.
Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.
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Paul wrote on Oct 5, 2008 5:52 PM:This heroic Marine gave his all for his fellow Marines and country. Seems the least we can do is honor him.
mark wrote on Oct 5, 2008 7:33 PM:another shame of this administration
Lee wrote on Oct 5, 2008 7:49 PM:If he was too incapacitated to win the MoH, he was too incapacitated to win the Navy Cross. If he was so gravely wounded that he didn't know what he was doing, he deserves the Purple Heart. So, which is it? This President and administration are so stupid that they can't even get their lies straight. This is written by a life-long Republican who's voting Democratic for the first time in my life.
Big Red 1 wrote on Oct 5, 2008 9:33 PM:It is the Navy Cross due to all the appeals. Other then that he deserves the Purple Heart.
Let it END....
Mark you are a coward wrote on Oct 5, 2008 10:12 PM:How dare you lame the Administration for this! It is a stupid medal!
I want free medical us education etc etc wrote on Oct 5, 2008 10:21 PM:Now I want a medal for my kid when he didn't even deserve it! Like some how that will justify this death! It is medla and cloth folks!
Lee this isnt about politics wrote on Oct 5, 2008 10:22 PM:Stop with the academy award drama! Thanks for leaving the republican party! What a drama queeen!
Nam 69 wrote on Oct 6, 2008 6:58 AM:An independent agency/committee needs to investigate the facts and arbitrate. Obviously the current powers that be can't seem to come to a concise conclusion as to what really happened. I agree with Lee. I to am not voting Republican as I have in the past but it's the Independent party candidate for me since Pat Paulson is no longer alive to vote for.
JimRT wrote on Oct 6, 2008 7:36 AM:To "big red" - Peralta did not let "it end", we should not either.
It is out in the open and people of means are talking about it. It has not died, there is still hope that people in power can see the error.
How would one go about getting a copy of the Marine Corps Times, Sept. 29 edition?
JimRT wrote on Oct 6, 2008 7:47 AM:To "I want free medical us education etc etc" - Are you ignorant beyond all learning? On the other hand, are you stupid?
FRANSWAH wrote on Oct 6, 2008 9:38 AM:I'm a Marine. USMC - KANEOHE '61-'63.
I had the exact same thoughts as Lee.
"If he was too incapacitated to win the MoH, he was too incapacitated to win the Navy Cross. If he was so gravely wounded that he didn't know what he was doing, he deserves the Purple Heart. So, which is it? This President and administration are so stupid that they can't even get their lies straight. This is written by a life-long Republican who's voting Democratic for the first time in my life."
Quote: "The Navy Cross citation acknowledges he deliberately used his body to shield the grenade blast,"
How would anyone know what Sgt. Peralta was thinking when he did what he did?
You can't have it both ways, i.e., he did, he didn't know what he was doing.
Give this hero the Medal of Honor - not a close call at all. It is based on a subjective opinion.
That Lee is voting Democratic shows he is a person of unfathomable perspicacity :).
DW wrote on Oct 6, 2008 9:40 AM:Bush doesn't have time to look at this matter. He's too busy trying to bail out his rich buddies and political supporters.
Veteran wrote on Oct 6, 2008 10:12 AM:For all of you who think this kid does not deserve this, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!. Most of you probably have never served a day in our military. This boy deserves and everone in his company realizes this. Enough said, I too have been a long life Republican but, they way this administration has handled everything, I am about to convert. I am sick of this ADMN!!
USMC GySgt wrote on Oct 6, 2008 10:24 AM:There are too many side-line quarterbacks who 'think' they know the circumstances. As a Marine who served two tours in Iraq, there are certainly situations where this could be viewed as an act of courage or just an (unfortunate) incidental act. But, as Marines we are taught how to handle situations when the call 'grenade!' goes out.
In this case, there may not have been any imminent danger to other Marines and Peralta may have just fallen on the grenade subsequent to being shot. And given the emotional impact on his fellow Marines over the loss of Peralta, they may have very subjective views on the choice of the medal awarded to their comrade.
We need to let the facts, not emotions, determine whether Peralta deserves the MOH.
Joe wrote on Oct 6, 2008 10:30 AM:This is a Military medal, its not up for debate or vote. The committee has all of the information, we do not.
The blame for this falls directly on the Marine Corps Times, they continue to twist the facts to sell papers! They are NOT associated with the USMC! They should NOT be allowed to continue to tell lies to make money! They are worse than the enquirer!
Frank wrote on Oct 6, 2008 2:06 PM:I'm a Marine. '61-'63 - Kaneohe
I had similar thoughts as Lee (wrote on Oct 5, 2008 7:49 PM)
"If he was too incapacitated to win the MoH, he was too incapacitated to win the Navy Cross. If he was so gravely wounded that he didn't know what he was doing, he deserves the Purple Heart. So, which is it? This President and administration are so stupid that they can't even get their lies straight. This is written by a life-long Republican who's voting Democratic for the first time in my life."
Quote: "The Navy Cross citation acknowledges he deliberately used his body to shield the grenade blast,"
How would anyone know what Sgt. Peralta was thinking when he did what he did?
You can't have it both ways, i.e., he did, he didn't know what he was doing.
Give this hero the Medal of Honor - not a close call at all. It is based on a subjective opinion.
That Lee is voting Democratic shows he is a person of unfathomable perspicacity :).
Joe is right wrote on Oct 6, 2008 2:10 PM:This is the media spin from the Times!
As usual USMC GySgt is right wrote on Oct 6, 2008 2:18 PM:I always knew if I needed a straight answer I could go to the Gunny! You're right Guns! Ooh Rah! No conspiracy! It is a military matter and they have spoken! Done!
moretothestory wrote on Oct 6, 2008 2:45 PM:yup, there is more to the story ... who will get it and tell his family and the nation who is confused about Sgt Peraltra and what he did or did not do Nov. 15, 2004. Grow a pair and get the story!
EPiC wrote on Oct 6, 2008 2:46 PM:i can't believe this is still being drug out. if he fell on the grenade on purpose, he deserves the MOH. if he fell on it from being shot, then he gets the Navy Cross. they made the decision that it was on accident, so he got the Navy Cross. end of story. if his family were to get the MOH after all of this, they only got it because they screamed and cried to the press, not to honor their son.
USMCVet wrote on Oct 6, 2008 3:47 PM:The USMC released the whole investigation to the public.
Reading through it, you will come to realize that the physical evidence proves that what the Marines said was true.
EPIC is right wrote on Oct 6, 2008 5:53 PM:That is what people do today! Scream and whine!!!
JimRT wrote on Oct 7, 2008 7:15 AM:"USMC GySgt" sounds like a manager and "As usual USMC GySgt is right" sounds like one of his hangers.
"No conspiracy! It is a military matter and they have spoken! Done!" yeah right,.
it was decided by suits.
If you don't know that, you are ignorant. If you don't believe it, you are stupid.
Who cares wrote on Oct 8, 2008 8:08 AM:This is foolish! Its just a stupid medal
Mark wrote on Oct 8, 2008 2:15 PM:To Who Cares... since when has the highest award been just a "stupid medal"?
usmclifer wrote on Oct 8, 2008 7:34 PM:All military medals are no different than a gold star you received in the 2nd grade for getting math problems correct. They are just there to get the unmotivated to perform. If you die, being awarded a Navy Cross or MOH is irrelevant- you are dead.
To mark wrote on Oct 8, 2008 8:21 PM:Since it will set in abox in acloset and this Marine will still be dead! It is medal and cloth! This human being is gone for ever. I would have said that the family would have prefered to have thier son returned to them. Not this stupid medal. But some how this stupid medal will make the difference. who cares it is the Navy Cross or the MOH! It will sit in a box in a closet or hang on a wall. The Marine is dead! Highest Award? The highest award was the Title "Marine!"
The Medal of Honor System wrote on Oct 8, 2008 8:28 PM:Is filled with scandal and corruption! Many enlisted service members earn it twice over and get ignored! get the right guy with some brass on his her collar! Then bingo they get teh MOH! Same with the other Medals where officers write their awards up and get awarded medals! They are just stupid medals! The President needs to act like he is PC, so he awards a MOH! Pathetic! Promotions and awrds, to those who do the same as others or less, yet they get them for the PC reason! Ha! Stupid Medla yes! I never sreved with any Marine in combat who said "Gee let's go out and do something brave for a medal? We did our duty because we loved our comrades! We wated to acccomplish the mission and come out alive! End of Story! No medal on my chest ever amde me more a man or a Marine! It would seem that the Marine Corps is becoming more like the Army and Air Force when it comes to giving out the goodies! Political Peer Pressure! It's an election year! It is a stupid medeal!!!
Response to Mark wrote on Oct 8, 2008 8:32 PM:Dead is Dead! Bro! The highest medal or the lowest medal. Made of the same thing! Just a different color!Most people could care less about this war anyway! The Democrats say they support us and only when they can get our vote! Most of them wouldn't serve, didn't serve, and do nasty things in the white house. They have friends who are domestic terrorist and the main stream media only cares about this as a means to try and undermine the current administration. It is a stupid medal!
All these veitnam vets are the worst wrote on Oct 8, 2008 8:36 PM:They chime in everytime they can get in a whine or two! Please! Move on! You served your country and saw battle! Thanks! ButjJust like the WWI and WWII vets, and all the others! It is and was your duty! Did any of you do anything else? It is a medal! Who cares! This Marine is gone!
Vet wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:35 PM:Some of the previous posts are typical for the waste of carbon we have here. It's called "Congressional" which means it can be political. The people on the board never served.
The previous comment about officers getting the medal over enlisted is moronic.
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