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?
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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
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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
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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
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I think he did. A lot of people have that didn't receive a thing.
At the end of the day, heroes don't die for medals. He was just happy doing what was right.
I think it's good for his family that he's getting recognized. It's important to see that a significant family member's death did not go unnoticed.
As for the MOH on our side, it's important to highlight our fallen and surviving brother and sister's sacrifices. Citations are a method of motivation starting in boot camp on. It has always baffled me who makes these decisions and why they award what they do.
The Navy Cross is nothing to sneeze at, but I believe the MOH should be awarded to everyone that has and exceptional and outstanding warriors death. It's not like someone should be holding up a 5.4 for bad form on your way to the ground.
At the end of the day, heroes don't die for medals. He was just happy doing what was right.
I think it's good for his family that he's getting recognized. It's important to see that a significant family member's death did not go unnoticed.
As for the MOH on our side, it's important to highlight our fallen and surviving brother and sister's sacrifices. Citations are a method of motivation starting in boot camp on. It has always baffled me who makes these decisions and why they award what they do.
The Navy Cross is nothing to sneeze at, but I believe the MOH should be awarded to everyone that has and exceptional and outstanding warriors death. It's not like someone should be holding up a 5.4 for bad form on your way to the ground.
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While our politicians may not honor his memory, I've made it a point to live my life with honor for the sacrifice and dedication Sgt Peralta made for my freedom. Whether or not he inherently knew he was already dying. He Still made a cognitive decision that he so loved the troops he was with that he would shield them from injury or evil.
God Bless you Sgt Peralta may your spirit live forever in the brotherhood of United States Marines.
Semper Fidelis
God Bless you Sgt Peralta may your spirit live forever in the brotherhood of United States Marines.
Semper Fidelis
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Yes, he should be given the MOH. Simply put, he earned it by sacrificing his life to save others.
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Since when has smothering a grenade to save others' lives not resulted in receiving the CMOH??? Seems like something else may be afoot here...perhaps politics???
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I remember reading about him in Stars and Stripes in 2004 while deployed in Iraq...OIF II/3rd BCT "Dukes of Diyala" 1st ID out of Vilseck, Germany.
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