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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Medal of Honor nomination for U.S. Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta of San Diego

OFF THE WIRE
A resubmission of the Medal of Honor nomination for U.S. Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta of San Diego depends on a review of new information, the secretary of the Navy's office said Thursday.
The statement from Secretary Ray Mabus' office came after Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, met with him this week to go over Peralta's case.
Hunter argues that Peralta, 24, is deserving of the nation's highest award for valor on the battlefield.
A Mexican immigrant who became a U.S. citizen after joining the Marine Corps, Peralta was killed during house-to-house fighting in Iraq in 2004.
Marines with Peralta that day said he reached for and pulled an insurgent grenade to his body, smothering it and saving the lives of fellow troops.
Peralta was nominated for the Medal of Honor, but a panel that reviewed his case said it could not definitively say his action was voluntary, given that he had received a devastating head wound before that act.
Peralta was ultimately awarded the Navy Cross posthumously in 2008, and last month had a U.S. Navy destroyer named in his honor.
Hunter said Thursday he believes an independent pathologist's review of the case and a Marine Corps video taken minutes after Peralta's death are sufficient new evidence to reopen his case for the Medal of Honor.
The video shows Peralta's left leg is uninjured and may contradict the Pentagon finding that the grenade detonated near that leg, rather than beneath his chest, as Marines there that day have said.
A Mabus spokeswoman said the secretary explained to Hunter the only way the case can be reopened is if the Navy Board for Decorations and Medals determines that the information Hunter argues is new and was not previously considered.
"If, after reviewing the information, the board recommends forwarding it, then Secretary Mabus will forward the information to the secretary of defense for his consideration," the spokeswoman said.
Hunter maintains in a letter sent to Mabus on Thursday that he believes unequivocally that Peralta deserves the higher award.
"There is absolutely no question that Sergeant Peralta pulled the grenade to his body, absorbed that blast with his upper body and saved the lives of his fellow Marines," Hunter wrote.
Call staff writer Mark Walker at 760-901-4080.
COMMENT


Is it a question of Sgt. Rafael Peralta's cognizant volition regarding his heroic act of pulling an enemy grenade to his chest to save his fellow marines as to why he is being denied the Medal of Honor? Is it because of the devistating head wound he received that casts doubt about his awareness of the sefless act? Sounds like he had enough presence of mind whether mortally wounded or not to think of others before himself. Give him the Medal of Honor.
Read more: http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/military/military-slain-marine-may-get-second-chance-at-medal-of/article_2e7dc46f-6548-5b70-b91f-49c2eead9034.html#ixzz1ogu4VcuM