Roster of American combat heroes in Iraq is rich [A MUST READ!]

Scripps-Howard News Service ^ | 3/10/05 | Lisa Hoffman

[Smartaleck]

One was Sgt. Rafael Peralta, 25, of San Diego,

---

a Mexican immigrant

---

who joined the Marines the day after he got his "green card." A platoon scout who didn't have to go on the dangerous Nov. 15 mission, Peralta volunteered to join a "stack" of five Marines hunting insurgents house-to-house in Fallujah.

Three enemy fighters waited behind a closed door. When Peralta opened it, he was hit in the head and chest by a close-up fusillade of AK-47 fire.

His Marine mates fought on, until one of the insurgents rolled a grenade toward Peralta, who lay bleeding on the floor. To save his nearby comrades, Peralta reached for the explosive and tucked it under his stomach, where it exploded. He was the only Marine to die.

He gave his life for country he wasn't even a citizen of!

[Deo volente]

For your ping lists:


A step-by-step representation of the battle in which Sgt. Smith gave his life, including actual audio from the fighting.

Many other links to his story included.

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/webspecials04/medalofhonor/battle.shtml

[Susannah]

He gave his life for country he wasn't even a citizen of!

The local news channels in southern california have reported quite a few stories of fallen soldiers who were noncitizens, mostly Mexican or Latino. Some of them had friends or relatives that spoke of how proud they were of their fallen soldier who only wanted to give back something to the country that gave them more freedom than where they had come from.

I'm not sure the details, but a news reporter talked about how military service was an early path to citizenship.

[Smartaleck]

"The local news channels in southern california have reported quite a few stories of fallen soldiers who were noncitizens,"

A fact often overlooked by those who would bash all immigrants. So ungrateful IMHO.