Can anyone tell me what would be the reason he didn't get it, I was sure he would.


By CHELSEA J. CARTER, AP Military Affairs Writer

SAN DIEGO - A Marine sergeant singled out by President Bush for throwing his body on a grenade to save his comrades in Iraq will receive the prestigious Navy Cross rather than the nation's highest military award, military officials said.

The family of Sgt. Rafael Peralta, who was posthumously nominated for the nation's highest military honor, told the North County Times of Escondido, Calif., they were disappointed he was not receiving the Medal of Honor.

"I don't understand why if the president has been talking about him," his mother, Rosa Peralta, told the newspaper, which was the first to report the bestowing of the Navy Cross.

Rosa Peralta said she was informed during a meeting with Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Richard Natonski that a committee could not agree on awarding the Medal of Honor to her son, who Marine Corps officials say was first wounded by friendly fire. She said the general mentioned the friendly fire aspect as part of her son's death during the discussion.

Marine Corps spokesman Mike Alvarez confirmed the meeting, saying only that it was a personal briefing between Natonski and Rosa Peralta to inform her that the secretary of the Navy would award the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism.

The Navy Cross is the second highest honor for combat heroism a Marine can receive.

The secretary of the Navy's public affairs office in Washington, D.C., did not immediately return an after-hours telephone call Wednesday seeking comment.

Headquarters Marine Corps spokesman Maj. David Nevers told The Associated Press that the Navy Cross for Peralta "is not bestowed lightly."

Nevers said only 23 sailors and Marines out of the thousands who have served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have received the Navy Cross.

"The awarding of a medals of valor is a methodical process and carefully conducted to ensure the sacrifice and service of our Marines and sailors is appropriately honored," he said.

Peralta was shot several times in the face and body during a house-to-house search in Fallujah on Nov. 15, 2004, during some of the fiercest fighting of the war.

According to a report by a Marine combat photographer who witnessed the act, Peralta lay wounded on the floor of a house and grabbed a grenade that had been lobbed by an insurgent. He absorbed the blast with his body, dying instantly.

In 2005, Natonski, then-commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, ordered an investigation to determine the source of a bullet fragment recovered from Peralta's body.

"Following multiple and exhaustive reviews, the evidence supports the finding that Peralta was likely hit by 'friendly fire,'" the Marine Corps said Wednesday in a press release. "This finding had no bearing on the decision to award the Navy Cross medal."

Bush cited Peralta's heroism in a Memorial Day speech in 2005, saying the Marine "understood that America faces dangerous enemies, and he knew the sacrifices required to defeat them."

Peralta, who was assigned to Hawaii's 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, moved to San Diego from Tijuana as a teenager. He was 25.

I read this story awhile ago, when the issue first published. Because from what medical doctors "concluded" his act on falling on the grenade was not "intentional". He had been shot numerous times and what multiple doctors said that they had concluded it was not intentional, but by "coincidence" that he "happened" to fall on the grenade. I STRONGLY believe that it was intentional, and if the Marines that witnessed it, and say it was intentional, he deserves the award. I really dislike the choice of SecDef on this one...

quote:

Originally posted by 5780809:
I read this story awhile ago, when the issue first published. Because from what medical doctors "concluded" his act on falling on the grenade was not "intentional". He had been shot numerous times and what multiple doctors said that they had concluded it was not intentional, but by "coincidence" that he "happened" to fall on the grenade. I STRONGLY believe that it was intentional, and if the Marines that witnessed it, and say it was intentional, he deserves the award. I really dislike the choice of SecDef on this one...

It ain't over 'til it's over. If the USMC is stonewalling, a member of Congress can recommend the MOH award be made, I believe.

I find it hard too believe that a doctors conclusion counts more than on scene witness accounts. Why is it that the only MOH from OEF/OIF are POSTHUMOUS. You tell me that not one survivor of the door to door battle for Fallujah,or Ramadi or Baghdad or Kharma or the triangle of death is desrving of this award. I feel this Medal has become overprotected.

Not to mention all the downgrading due to rank that is happening. It is just plan an injustice.Now just to clarify I served in Iraq as A Seabee and Iam not *****ing on my account but rather for the Corpsman and Marines I meet and when I hear there story cant understand why the low award. I read the citation and think if this was an officerit would be a Bronze Star W/V or Silver Star W/V rather than a NAM or COM or vice versa. Now dont get me wrong I am not saying no officer or senoir enlisted deserve a high medal for valor ,but rather let the actions of the individual regardless of rank be the deciding factor...

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