Posted on 12/06/2004 11:54:26 PM PST by kattracks
SAN DIEGO — Sgt. Rafael Peralta is dead, but the story of his sacrifice to save fellow Marines will live long in Marine Corps lore.In the fierce battle for the Iraqi town of Fallujah, Peralta, with gunshot wounds to his head and body, reached out and grabbed a grenade hurled by an insurgent, cradling it to his body to save others from the blast.
The explosion in the back room of a house injured one Marine, but four others managed to scramble to safety.
Peralta, 25, an immigrant from Mexico who enlisted the day he got his green-card work permit, was declared dead en route to a field hospital.
[snip]
“He saved the life of my son and every Marine in that room,” Morrison said in a phone call from Seattle. “I just know one thing: God has a special place in heaven for Sgt. Peralta.”
Similar gratitude was expressed by family members of other Marines in Peralta’s unit who were close to the blast. The unit was Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.
[snip]
Rafael Peralta had not been assigned to the Nov. 15 attack on Fallujah. Still, he volunteered.
[snip]
In the hours after the battle, Marines spoke quietly of Peralta’s heroism.
“You’re still here, don’t forget that,” Lance Cpl. Richard A. Mason told Kaemmerer. “Tell your kids, your grandkids, what Sgt. Peralta did for you and other Marines today.”
(Excerpt) Read more at theunionleader.com ...
Semper Fi, Marine.
May God bless his soul. A truly Christian act of love.
L
Wow, a hero indeed, God Bless his soul.
God bless his family and his memory!
So brave and so honorable.
An immigrant, wow!
His parents raised a good man, they should be proud.
“He saved the life of my son and every Marine in that room,” Morrison said in a phone call from Seattle. “I just know one thing: God has a special place in heaven for Sgt. Peralta.”
no greater love .......
Near the entrance to the Veterans' Cometary in Houston there is a small new section of graves of KIAs. Disproportionately Hispanic surnames.
It's sad to see the hatred that some feel free to direct at Hispanics on FR.
God comfort and bless his family, for surely this was a true man, American, and Marine. Today Sgt. Peralta stands guard on his new post the streets of Heaven... with all the rest of America's best.
I hear the exact same thing coming from MECHA and La Voz de Aztlan. How interesting.
In Houston, it is true - how quickly some people forget that many of the first Texicans were "Tejanos" with Hispanic surnames.
We are proud of all our American Marines.
Unbelievable act of bravery. May he dwell in peace and beauty forever.
Amen.
Who is directing hatred towards Hispanics?
THAT man is a hero.
This wonderful man should receive the Medal of Honor!
I'd like to think I could have done what he did for his friends...but I really doubt it...what a brave guy.
It's there for anyone with eyes and half a brain to see. You can see wonderful tidbits like:
The prevailing culture should stay Anglo-Saxon. If that's lost, America will not stay free, I can promise you that. Latinos and Muslims have scarcely heard of the Magna Carta or the Reformation. These are the things Anglo-Saxon culture brings to our history.
Or:
I have nothing against Mexicans or any other non-Anglo ethnic type in America on a personal basis. But I do think our culture is being intentionally shifted from a traditional bedrock of Anglo-Saxon sensibilities toward something entirely different.
And while we haven't seen it rear it's ugly head here, we do get this snide comment:
I hear the exact same thing coming from MECHA and La Voz de Aztlan. How interesting.
What's your agenda?
This hero gave his best. Surely he deserves our best.
Why not a place in Arlington??
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