Marine Denied Medal of Honor Sergeant Took Grenade's Blast in Fallujah, Was Lauded by Bush

The Washington Post ^ | 9/19/08 | Ann Scott Tyson

[reasonmclucus]

According to the secretary of the Navy, Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta gave his life to save his comrades in the Iraqi city of Fallujah in 2004, grabbing a hostile grenade, pulling it to his body and absorbing the brunt of the blast. President Bush later praised Peralta as a hero. But a decision by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates not to recommend him for the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor, stirred an outcry yesterday by his family and Marines whose lives he saved. Peralta instead will be posthumously awarded the second-highest award for valor in combat, the Navy Cross, the military announced Tuesday.

[reasonmclucus]

The denial of a Medal of Honor to Sgt. Peralta is unjustified. Alleged medical experts who weren't eyewitnesses shouldn't be allowed to contradict the statements of eyewitnesses who saw what Peralta did to say the lives of his fellow Marines.

In my war, Vietnam, granting a Medal of Honor in such situations was essential automatic.

for an account of Peralta's heroism see http://www.nationalreview.com/lowry/lowry200501110730.asp

[tuckrdout]

This is a travesty! Gates should be ashamed of himself, and if he isn’t , he should be shamed.

[DoughtyOne]

I don’t get the thinking here at all. Is there something I’m missing about the story? Why would Gates deny the guy the top honor? Is this a protocol issue that I am not aware of?

[crazyhorse691]

I am at a loss to explain this...some political crap or something here that us trench diggers don't know about. Let me know if there is somebody I can talk to to readdress this.

[americanophile]

I’m certain if the President wants him to have it, he’ll have it.

[BulletBobCo]

God will give him his MOH.

[Anti-Bubba182]

No doubt.

[DieHard the Hunter]

“Greater love hath no man than this...”

What a disappointing outcome for Sgt Peralta’s family. Nevertheless, God knows His own.

[napscoordinator]

I don’t get the thinking here at all. Is there something I’m missing about the story? Why would Gates deny the guy the top honor? Is this a protocol issue that I am not aware of?

Saving the budget maybe. Gates is a numbers guy apparently. The Medal of Honor earner is eligible for a 1200 dollar a month stipen which would go to the beneficiary. Maybe they don’t want to keep spending money...Crappy reason if that is it but I have heard worse in the past.

[DoughtyOne]

Yes, that would be a rotten reason.

[frankjr]

“Is there something I’m missing about the story? “

Well it looks like the story said Peralta died from his friendly fire head wound before the grenade rolled in. There appeared to be no clear consensus.

If the family is upset about the extra money, I would just give it to them.

[greeter70]

Is his beneficiary a US citizen? Perhaps that would be a reason to deny the MOH, the $1200 a month going to a non-citizen.

[greeter70]

Is his beneficiary a US citizen? Perhaps that would be a reason to deny the MOH, the $1200 a month going to a non-citizen.

[greeter70]

Is his beneficiary a US citizen? Perhaps that would be a reason to deny the MOH, the $1200 a month going to a non-citizen.

[greeter70]

Is his beneficiary a US citizen? Perhaps that would be a reason to deny the MOH, the $1200 a month going to a non-citizen.

[Onerom99]

if there’s a friendly fire bullet in his head, then that would be kind of hard to argue against wouldn’t it? Perhaps he was killed by friendly fire and his lifeless body fell onto the grenade?

[Timeout]

I saw this story (including photo) on the front page of yesterday’s USA Today: “Marine Denied Medal of Honor”.

My instant thought was: “I don’t recall seeing any front page stories about a soldier who WAS awarded the medal”.

Could the media beclown themselves any more than they have in this century?

[panaxanax]

>>”I’m certain if the President wants him to have it, he’ll have it.”<<

Don’t count on it. The way Bush has been acting lately I don’t think he cares much about anything anymore. We are basically without leadership.

If Bush wanted Ramos and Campeon to be released, he would have seen to it. He’s the ultimate definition of a “Lame Duck”.

[DannyTN]

"Well it looks like the story said Peralta died from his friendly fire head wound before the grenade rolled in. "

So Peralta grabbed the grenade and pulled it close to his body after being dead. That takes some will power.

[WaterBoard]

Were you there? His comarades WHO WERE THERE funny man say he did and that should be good enough.

This is a Marine who died in combat, have a little respect for him and his family.