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Marine of the Week // Selfless Sacrifice

Marine of the Week // Selfless Sacrifice

Sgt. Rafael Peralta
1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division
Fallujah, Iraq, November 15 2004
Award: Navy Cross (Posthumously)

Clearing scores of houses in the previous three days, Sergeant Peralta asked to join an under-strength squad and volunteered to stand post the night of 14 November, allowing fellow Marines more time to rest. The following morning, during search and attack operations, while clearing the seventh house of the day, the point man opened a door to a back room and immediately came under intense, close-range automatic weapons fire from multiple insurgents. The squad returned fire, wounding one insurgent. While attempting to maneuver out of the line of fire, Sergeant Peralta was shot and fell mortally wounded. After the initial exchange of gunfire, the insurgents broke contact, throwing a fragmentation grenade as they fled the building. 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. Sergeant Peralta succumbed to his wounds. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Sergeant Peralta reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.​​​​​​​

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Comments

Jackie Wireman Sgt 2nd Recon USMC 1972-1977 - April 20, 2020

It is a shame that we keep getting but down of people that have no any idea of what it is to be a Marine. This brave Marine even though wounded knew he had to save the men around him, which he did, lost his life. I can only hope they push up his award to the Medal of Honor.

Charles Perry - April 20, 2020

The post of fellow Marines all speak. MOH Vietnam Veteran served both 68 and 69. SEMPER Fi

Frank Sinanian Cpl 58-64 - April 20, 2020

The MEDAL of HONOR for sure. SEMPER FI

HARRY HOPWOOD - April 20, 2020

ONCE AGAIN THE BEAN COUNTERS SCREWING THE CORPS, THIS MARINE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE MOH NOT THE NAVY CROSS. I WAS AN O341 FORWARD OBSERVER FOR 81MM MORTORS IN NAM 67-69 WITH 2/3 MARINES IN I CORPS AND IT SEEMED AS ALL OFFICERS CAME BACK WITH VALOR MEDALS WHILE THE ENLISTED MARINES GOT PURPLE HEARTS. PRAYERS OUT TO THIS MARINE AND HIS FAMILY AND THAT SGT. PERALTA WILL GET THE AWARD HE DESERVES. SEMPER FIDELIS

White Gregory - April 20, 2020

This Marine should have gotten the CMH. His fellow Marines all know this SEMPER FI my brother

JERRY CLARK - April 20, 2020

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOH WITHOUT QUESTION. WHAT DOES A MARINE HAVE TO DO TO GET THE MOH. IF HE HAD BEEN ARMY HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE MOH AND NOT TAKE 14 YEARS TO GET IT. PISSED OFF OLD MARINE. VIETNAM VETERN 1968. QUANG TRI, DONG HA, CAM LO,CAMP CARROL DURING TET OFFENSE. J. CLARK, 2/9 MARINES,3RD MARINE DIVISION. ALL MARINES STAND UP FOR OUR BROTHER. SEMPER FI BROTHER AND MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.

artymgysgt - April 20, 2020

Three former SecDefs did not help Sgt. Peralta perhaps General Mattis will.

arshru - April 20, 2020

typical for the people who weren’t there you know the asses that approve or not medals.

SGT STANLEY DZIUBA - April 20, 2020

WHAT MORE CAN BE SAID ,EACH AND EVERY MARINE POSTED WHAT IS THE TRUTH. THE MARINE SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR OTHER MARINES,NO IF’S AND’S OR BUTS THE MEDAL OF HONOR SHOULD BE HIS REWARD. SEMPER FI

Albert Rodriguez - April 20, 2020

Political correction has “no” place. It is strictly a “mask.” We as Marines (Feb. 1, 1962 to Dec. 23, 1966) understand it is not about “me” or “you.” It is about all those whom you serve with in one’s assigned unit. This is a tragedy for this Marine to be awarded as such in a condescending manner. Without any comments or questions, the Marine Corps needs to correct their decision regarding what occurred and do the right thing to award this Marine the Medal of Honor as a minimum.

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