SACRIFICE Troop cradled grenade to save others

Los Angeles Times ^ | 12-7-2004 | TONY PERRY and RICHARD MORRIS

[Old Student]

"One, two, three, four...

I love the Marine Corp! "

Me, too, and I'm Air Force.

When I was a kid in high school, one of my buddies (Dad's buddy, actually) had been in the first wave to hit the beach at Iwo Jima. Earl had some INTERESTING war stories to tell. Impressed heck out of one HS boy I knew... So much so that I DID NOT join the Marines, as I'm not that tough. I'm still glad that there are people that tough in our country, even if they come from Mexico. God Bless you, Sergeant Peralta, and your family, too.

[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!!

[Nitro]

Well, if we are going to trade stories...

My Grand-Father was in the "Fightin' 69th, 42nd Rainbow Division" in WWI, with "Wild Bill" Donovan and Father Duffy.

My uncle was a squid and my father was a Marine, but my father ran away and I joined the Navy because of that.

[82Marine89]

Its amazing how the MSM downplays this story. I don't think that understand how a Marine could sacrifice his life to save others.

[TMSuchman]

There is the last verse of the Hymn that goes;

Here's health to you and to our Corps
which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
and never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded by
UNITED STATES MARINES

He has reported to Chesty and is standing his post there.
The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY has blessed this man & his family!

I am sure that the paperwork is being submitted to HQMC for his MOH, but this will take some time :( , but the CMC will do the right thing and foreword to Congress recommending approval.
This man has walked in the footsteps of those Marines who came before him, in such places as Tarawa,Iwo Jima,Bellu Woods, Haiti, ect... Because where ever history is being made there will always be Marines there doing what has to be done no matter what price to be paid!

[jveritas]

Amen.

This is a very moving story.

GOD rest the soul of Sgt. Peralta.

[WV Mountain Mama]

May God bless this man.

[condi2008]

THE MANSIONS OF THE LORD

To fallen soldiers let us sing
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord

No more bleeding, no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
Just divine embrace, eternal light
In the Mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard though the angels sleep
All through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord

[Calpernia]

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.

“If he hadn’t done what he did, a lot of us wouldn’t be seeing our families again,” said Lance Cpl. Travis J. Kaemmerer, who witnessed the blast.

God Bless Him.

[Texas Deb]

Bump.

[beachn4fun]

R. I. P Sgt. Peralta

and my heartfelt gratitude to him and his family for their sacifice.

[BulletBobCo]

Semper Fi!

[proud American in Canada]

Wow, this brings tears to my eyes.

He's a real hero and deserves a medal.

I don't know how the process works but it would really be something if GW could personally hand it to his family.

[Barnstormer]

Above and beyond the call of duty, without a doubt. Three or four living witnesses, the MOH should not be in question.

[HiJinx]

Peralta was buried over the weekend in his hometown in Guadalajara with full military honors.

God Bless men such as he.

[W04Man]

Bump, thanks for the Ping Tonk.

What a man!

http://TroopsSupport.com

[CTOCS]

Not to be a stickler for detail, but the acronym (or Military Shortspeak) for the Medal of Honor is CMH, not MOH. It's the Congressional Medal of Honor.

And yes, I would like to see the family flown to the White House and have the president personally do the ceremony in company with SECNAV, CMC, and his unit commanders. All on National TV...

Someone much more erudite than me, posted on these boards recently, an article titled "Where Do We Get Them?"

Where, indeed...

Semper fi and rest in peace, young man.....

[Former Military Chick]

I had posted an article about this fine Marnie here A Hero's Courageous Sacrifice (TAPS and he died a hero) you might like to see what other Freepers had to say of this Marines heroism. We cannot post enough articles to thank our military folks for their patriotism I have included TAPS. Perhaps we can share a prayer for his unit, his friends and his family.

TAPS

Listen to TAPS

Day is done, gone the sun, From the hills, from the lake, From the skies. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep, May the soldier or sailor, God keep. On the land or the deep, Safe in sleep.

Love, good night, Must thou go, When the day, And the night Need thee so? All is well. Speedeth all To their rest.

Fades the light; And afar Goeth day, And the stars Shineth bright, Fare thee well; Day has gone, Night is on.

Thanks and praise, For our days, 'Neath the sun, Neath the stars, 'Neath the sky, As we go, This we know, God is nigh.

(Note: there are no "official" words to Taps below are the most popular.)

[The Mayor]

Welcome Home

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Thank you for the hymn verse and the post. It wouldn't surprise me if it were true.