Posted on May 28, 2015
Family of Rafael Peralta, fallen Iraq War hero, to accept Navy Cross. Do you think he should have received the Medal of Honor?
9.92K
62
23
7
7
0
The family of one of the most celebrated Marine Corps heroes of the Iraq War will soon accept the nation’s second-highest award for valor on his behalf, nearly 11 years after he was killed in combat and almost seven years after the Pentagon made the controversial decision to deny him the Medal of Honor.
Sgt. Rafael Peralta will soon receive the Navy Cross posthumously during a ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., said his younger brother, Ricardo. Peralta’s mother, Rosa, still believes the sergeant deserves the nation’s highest award for heroism in combat, but is tired after years of appeals. She had refused to receive the Navy Cross, citing her belief he deserved the higher award.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/05/28/family-of-rafael-peralta-fallen-iraq-war-hero-to-accept-navy-cross-award-after-long-refusal/?tid=HP_national?tid=HP_national
========================================================
Sgt. Rafael Peralta will soon receive the Navy Cross posthumously during a ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., said his younger brother, Ricardo. Peralta’s mother, Rosa, still believes the sergeant deserves the nation’s highest award for heroism in combat, but is tired after years of appeals. She had refused to receive the Navy Cross, citing her belief he deserved the higher award.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/05/28/family-of-rafael-peralta-fallen-iraq-war-hero-to-accept-navy-cross-award-after-long-refusal/?tid=HP_national?tid=HP_national
========================================================
Posted in these groups: 
US Marine Corps (USMC)
Medal of Honor
US Marine Corps (USMC) Medal of Honor
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 18
7
7
0
His award (Navy Cross) citation has this "Sergeant Peralta reached out and pulled the grenade to his body, absorbing the brunt of the blast and shielding fellow Marines only feet away."
That said, the MoH or Navy Cross isn't what makes him a Hero. It's his actions that day. He should be appropriately recognized for those actions.
That said, the MoH or Navy Cross isn't what makes him a Hero. It's his actions that day. He should be appropriately recognized for those actions.
(7)
(0)
5
5
0
The question to if he knew what he was doing is a moot point. The fact is, he was a Marine who died, and because of his death, fellow Marines were saved. If that is not a legitimate reason for getting the medal of honor, then I don't know was is.
(5)
(0)
5
5
0
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
Everyone has to admit that having a ship named after you is pretty cool! Sgt Aaron Kennedy!
(4)
(0)
While I am clearly not a Marine, this Marine and his legacy was marred by persons not wanting to recognized him properly. When I first read (years ago) when and how he died and how he was denied the MOH, even I was outraged. This Marine earned the MOH IMHO.
(4)
(0)
4
4
0
3
3
0
IMHO, he should have. His act of heroism was not as grandiose as say, Audie Murphy's, but he sacrificed himself to save Marines.
I think Civilian authorities should just accept the MOH recommendations from the Generals involved...
I think Civilian authorities should just accept the MOH recommendations from the Generals involved...
(3)
(0)
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
I'm trying not to be overly callous on this one, but my first reading was "he jumped on a grenade, why wouldn't he get an MoH?"
And then I remembered the actual statistics of Marines, grenades, and MoH... We've had 55 (if my count is right) Marines jump on grenades (6 survivors) and receive the MoH. It comes to about 18%~ of our services total recipients.
I "think" they may have been trying to set the bar high, just because... and again not to sound callous, this is one of our most common acts of Valor.
And then I remembered the actual statistics of Marines, grenades, and MoH... We've had 55 (if my count is right) Marines jump on grenades (6 survivors) and receive the MoH. It comes to about 18%~ of our services total recipients.
I "think" they may have been trying to set the bar high, just because... and again not to sound callous, this is one of our most common acts of Valor.
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
The Navy Cross is a damn fine award. Chesty had 5 of them, no MOH for him. Peralta's courage and sacrifice is not lessened because of the award given. Those he saved are still saved, the selflessness of the act is no less selfless.
Having a Navy Ship named after you is pretty nice too. Not too many enlisted Marines get that treatment.
He wasn't denied the medal of honor as the story says. He was awarded the Navy Cross. No one is entitled to the MOH for heroism.
Having a Navy Ship named after you is pretty nice too. Not too many enlisted Marines get that treatment.
He wasn't denied the medal of honor as the story says. He was awarded the Navy Cross. No one is entitled to the MOH for heroism.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
First off, let's agree that the Navy Cross is not a chump award. It IS the second highest award for valor in the Navy and Marine Corps. Let's not treat it like a Campaign Medal.
Second, I share your frustration in that this Marine seems to be deserving of the MOH and for reasons unknown to me, is being denied it. What makes the case suspect for me, is that one of the main reasons cited in the article for the denial is the question of whether Sgt. Peralta "consciously" acted to cover the grenade with his body because of the wound to his head. A reasonable question perhaps...if not for the fact that his Navy Cross citation states:
"The grenade came to rest near Sergeant Peralta’s head. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Peralta reached out and pulled the grenade to his body, absorbing the brunt of the blast and shielding fellow Marines only feet away."
Seems to me the government has already answered the question. Whatever the limitations to his cognitive abilities (can anyone REALLY know this?) because of a head wound, Sgt. Peralta acted "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty— " (from United States Code Title 10, Subtitle C, Part II, Chapter 567, Criteria For the Medal of Honor).
Second, I share your frustration in that this Marine seems to be deserving of the MOH and for reasons unknown to me, is being denied it. What makes the case suspect for me, is that one of the main reasons cited in the article for the denial is the question of whether Sgt. Peralta "consciously" acted to cover the grenade with his body because of the wound to his head. A reasonable question perhaps...if not for the fact that his Navy Cross citation states:
"The grenade came to rest near Sergeant Peralta’s head. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Peralta reached out and pulled the grenade to his body, absorbing the brunt of the blast and shielding fellow Marines only feet away."
Seems to me the government has already answered the question. Whatever the limitations to his cognitive abilities (can anyone REALLY know this?) because of a head wound, Sgt. Peralta acted "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty— " (from United States Code Title 10, Subtitle C, Part II, Chapter 567, Criteria For the Medal of Honor).
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I think the political and civilian world clouded this entire situation, he clearly was deserving of it through the actions he took and I don't believe his family will settle but the fighting only adds pain to the sad situation.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
So, why wouldn't they go even further and discredit the first hand accounts of the Marines that were there? It sounds like they are more intersted in denying something instead of approving it. I would think once the Generals that approved it the medal would be approved the rest of the way up.
Am I wrong for thinking this Gunny?
Am I wrong for thinking this Gunny?
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google