Posted on 09/18/2008 8:35:40 PM PDT by goldstategop
September 18, 2008 For G-d's Sake, Give This Deceased American Hero His Medal!
By Debbie Schlussel
Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta is a role model for all Americans, whether they are immigrants like him or native born. He made the ultimate sacrifice, giving his life to save those of his fellow Marines.
Sadly, nitpickers in our military are denying him and his grieving family the Medal of Honor. It's a travesty. This late patriot deserves the honor. He earned it in blood and gutted limbs.
This is the kind of one-time illegal alien I wish we had more of in America. His story makes me proud to be an American, while at the same time it is heartbreaking:
Rest In Peace: Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta Deserves the Medal of Honor
An immigrant from Mexico, Rafael Peralta enlisted in the Marine Corps the day after he received his green card in 2000. He adorned his bedroom at his parents' home in San Diego with copies of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights and a picture of his boot camp graduation class.
And as he waited for combat in Fallouja, he wrote to his teenage brother: "You should be proud of being an American. Our father came to this country because it was the right place for our family to be. If anything happens to me, just remember I've already lived my life to the fullest."
(Excerpt) Read more at debbieschlussel.com ...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
See the article to find out. Basically he fell on a live grenade and saved several of his comrades. Apparently the DoD is denying him the medal of honor on a technicality, against the testimony of the other soldiers.
Mark Levin devoted a segment of his show to Sgt. Peralta when this happened, and I remember being moved by the story then.
I don't agree with the bureaucrats' shameful nitpicking. What he did was a miracle and he saved the lives of his fellow Marines. Our government doesn't get it! This is not the way to treat a hero, who deserves nothing less than our country's highest honor. And his family and fellow Marines should reject the Navy Cross the government is offering!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
“Peralta instead will be posthumously awarded the nation’s second-highest award for valor in combat, the Navy Cross, the military announced Tuesday.”
I’m not sure what the basis was for this decision, but the bar for winning the Medal of Honor is rightly set very high. Winning the Navy Cross is a great honor.
This is disgusting.
Who, in particular, is holding him up?
This sounds like politics and the person should be exposed.
The short and stocky Marine nicknamed “Rafa” had deployed to Japan with 1,000 other Marines with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, but the Kane’ohe Bay unit was rerouted to Iraq and found itself in the thick of fierce house-to-house fighting in Operation Al Fajr, one of the biggest firefights in Iraq.
Shot in the head and chest as he and other Hawai’i Marines cleared a house, Peralta, 25, had the presence of mind to grab the yellow-colored Iraqi grenade that bounced into the room, fellow Marines say.
He was killed instantly by the blast. Reynolds, the Alpha Company Marine who was in the same room that day, figures Peralta saved as many as five Marines.
He was not only a hero, but an immigrant hero who got his citizenship while in uniform, loved what America and the Corps stood for, and proved it with his life, say those who knew him.
from :
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080918/NEWS01/809180377/1001
1/3 is back in the AO at this time . I have alerted them to this news . They do not like it at all....
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The Navy Cross is the second highest award for bravery. Nothing shameful about being awarded that.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The Medal of Honor is awarded by the President, in the name of Congress, to a Service members of the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Coast Guard, who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of the service and there must be no margin of doubt or possibility of error in awarding this medal. To justify the decoration, the individual's service must clearly be rendered conspicuous above his or her comrades by an act so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes his or her gallantry beyond the call of duty from lesser forms of bravery; and it must be the type of deed which if not done would not subject the individual to any justified criticism.
WHERE THE HELL IS BUSH ON THIS???? - I hate to say this, but he has hired some many incompetents in his administration that it speaks volumes as to why he has such a low approval.
If the President can PARDON CRIMINALS, the President SHOULD SURELY BE ABLE TO OVER-RULE HIS CABINET SCTY (Gates).
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Does anybody out there know why there are so very few medal-winners in this war compared with earlier wars. It always strikes me as odd.
If he did not meet the standers for the Medal of Honor, I would like to see how they justified awarding the Navy Cross.
I concur....wholeheartly, Doc.
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