RE: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,175668,00.html

First. This story is totally UNSAT and ATE-UP! This Marine caught several rounds, knew he was going to bite it, ordered his fellow Marines out and cradled the grenade to save their lives. Maybe they didnt want to award the MOH for an action that was similar to what Navy SEAL Petty Officer Monsoor did. He had the chance to get out, took the grenade and bit the big one, saving his team. Similar circumstances, both men knew they were going to check out, possibly had a chance to break camp, but decided to sacrifice themselves and save their brothers. This is a snub of sorts, but the Marine did earn the Navy Cross<---which aint nothing to shake a stick at.

RE: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,175668,00.html

I don't know who served on that committee, but they should be ashamed of themselves. I doubt that any of them have ever been in combat. I'd love to hear their reasoning behind their decision.
SgtMck, USMC 64-68 VietVet

This is the third thread running on this subject...
Respectfully, SUNLINER81

Here is the first:


http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/672198221...991001#3100087991001

The award of a medal isn't the point of this. THe point is a fine Marine died in service of his country.
Rest in Peace Warrior.

You ask What I think???. Well I thingk if a marine,soldier,sailor,airman. Can grab a granade that was throw in to the midist of his buddies by a enemy.having been shot on top of that. is the utmost sign of selfless bravery.even if a fragment of a shot was by friendly fire.the killing effect was the granade!!!. and the Marine went above and beyound the act of heroism.So You desk jockys that try to figure out if you have enough guts and or brave enough to sacrifice your desk jocky ass's should give that marine the medal of honor!!!. I'll bet you desk jockys have a chrest full of high decorations( I wonder how you got them.) went down to the clothing store and bought them. but most usually that takes a set of orders or your dd form 214.I know you set at your desk and cut your self orders???,HuH

When I first learned of this Marine's heroism, I vowed if I ever had another child, he would get this guy's first name... "Rafael Burt" would have been a little odd at first, but when he learned of why he was given the name, he would wear it with pride. According to the first reports, not only was he wounded, he had the chance to be evac'ed because of a wound to the jaw. He refused. Staying on board, continuing with the mission when he had a chance to return to safety, catches more rounds, lays wounded and when he sees the grenade, who knows, laying on the floor, the upward conical blast wave couldve grazed him. He decided to grab the grenade and eat it, saving his fellow Marines. If that doesnt warrant the MOH, then what does!?!?!?

1) I am greatly disturbed by SecDef’s decision to take this to a panel, especially one lopsided with Army and Civilians. Historically, Medals of Honor have been vetted based upon the “Witness Statements.” In this case it is quite apparent that a decision was made based upon forensic evidence, and the “witness statements” had very little impact.

2) The issue of friendly fire is (or should be) a non-issue. The same is true of cognizance. In that regard, I believe Medals of Honor awarded to men who have thrown themselves on grenades reflects perhaps the highest form of courage and sacrifice. You can train a man to attack a machine gun nest, shoot down enemy planes, etc., but you can not train a man to jump on a grenade. Those who have, in my opinion, never have had time in the 3 or so seconds after a grenade lands near them, to weigh the options and decide cognizant whether or not to sacrifice their life. In Peralta’s case, I believe he made the decision to pull that grenade beneath his body, days, weeks, perhaps years before he actually did it. That action, which I would categorize as instinctive, was the result of a personal decision before he ever went to war that the lives and safety of his comrades was more important than his own life. Whether he consciously made that decision before or during that horrible moment is irrelevant…ingrained in his character was the willingness to die for his buddies and that decision was made before he did it.

3) As mentioned before, I do not understand why this panel was headed by the Army Chief of Staff…did Secretary Gates believe the Navy or Marines did not have anyone capable or subjective enough to make the right choices? another member of the Panel was ARMY Lt. Gen. John Vines. And why was an ARMY pathologist’s conclusions more important than those of the Medical Officers who previously reported on Peralta. Is the ARMY now making decisions about what awards are to be given to members of the Navy and Marine Corps?

In my opinion, this is one more example of a total lack of appreciation for and understanding of our military awards process at the “Puzzle Palace” in Washington, D.C. This is the same DoD that sent David Bellavia’s Silver Star to him via third class mail, with his name mis-spelled. This is the same DoD that couldn’t find anyone last November to advise the Secretary of the Army, when he presented the DSC to Walter Jackson, that the Medal of Honor is the only award that is hung around the neck? (Photo attached—notice that the neck ribbon doesn’t even match the suspension ribbon.) This is the same DoD that denied the “Baltimore Sun’s” FOIA request for all Silver Star citations in GWOT “on the grounds that it couldn't find all of them.” This is the same DoD that issued a Silver Star to Lance Corporal Moses Cardenas (USMC) under the heading “The President of the United States takes pride in presenting…”, syntax for a posthumous award. (If the recipient is a living recipient, the President takes PLEASURE in presenting… This is the same DoD that apparently doesn’t realize that dying is NOT a prerequisite for receiving the Medal of Honor, and that seems unable to find a single hero in this war who is still alive, whose heroism rates our highest military honor. This is the same DoD that now channels all Silver Star awards through Washington, D.C., in contrast to historical precedent that allowed General Officers to “Impact” awards and present Silver Stars and lower on the spot, in the field.

DoD has repeatedly demonstrated total incompetence where military awards are concerned.

This Marine most definately deserves a MOH. No questions asked.

As saddening as this news is, Fear Not. This brave soul WILL receive his heavenly reward for his great sacrifice.

"Greater Love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

WE will N-E-V-E-R forget.

He deserves the MOH period!!

This Marine should receive the MOH...hands down.

Agreed Award him the MOH.

The CMH has specific criteria that must be met to award the Medal, apparently this criteria was not met. God bless the Sgt & family.

I understand the weight and prestige the Navy Cross carries, but to not reward this Marine's brave sacrifice with the Medal of Honor is a true travesty! I'm sure that the men he saved feel the same way.

THIS YOUNG MARINE DESERVES THE MEDAL OF HONOR,WHICH IS GIVEN FOR VALOR, SERVICE AND SACRAFICE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.IF KERRY DESERVED 3 PURPLE HEART'S. SURE AS HELL THIS YOUNG MAN DESERVES THE MEDAL OF HONOR.

What a slap in the face for the family. I agree that he does deserve the Medal of Honor, especially after being told he would.

If this DevilDawg gave his unselfish life for his brothers, that act alone should merit the Medal of Honor. My question to BUSH, His Administration, and the so called Committee, what would you do to save or help out your brothers? None of the BUSHES are serving in military. So, why should some who no experience in the matter decide what merits the Medal of Honor.

A TRAVSITY is when the CMH is awarded without the proper proof or criteria to deceased Vets so a Prez can cater to a certain racial group.(1990s) the awards system is not fair it is conducted by people like us who, try as hard as we can, are not perfect! from 66 to 69 I was AD went to Ger & VN got 3 ribbons now kids outta Basic get 3 upon graduation. I think, not sure, in this case, they did not have a statement from Comm.Officer, I could be wrong , CK out the Reg.

The decision is "almost like somebody called me a liar," said Marine Sgt. Nicholas Jones, 25, who was with Peralta that day. Jones, a recruiter, said Peralta's actions have become part of Marine Corps lore, as drill sergeants and officer-candidate instructors repeat it to new Marines. "His name is definitely synonymous with valor," said Jones, who was wounded by the grenade blast.

Gates appointed a five-member panel led by retired Lt. Gen. John Vines, the former commander of multi-national forces in Iraq, to reinvestigate reports of the battle. The panel also included a Medal of Honor recipient, a retired military neurosurgeon and two civilian forensic pathologists, Whitman said. He declined to provide their names.

Peralta's family was notified of the decision Wednesday by Lt. Gen. Richard Natonski, a top Marine Corps commander. Col. David Lapan, a Marine spokesman, said he was unaware of any recent award nomination that was denied in this way. (The last three paragraphs from an article in USA Today 091808)

I could be wrong, but let me get this straight;

1. Five of the fellow Marines, who were there at the time, all state he “scooped the grenade under his body”.

2. The physical evidence from his body armor and body state the grenade exploded under him

3. Four medical experts say he could have knowingly reached for the grenade, while one medical expert says his wounds were"nearly instantly fatal. He could not have executed any meaningful motions." (side note: WTF does “nearly instantly” mean)

4. This Marine willingly chose to lead his assault team, when he was not required to enter the buildings to clear them. He was the first to enter the room where this incident occurred. (For those who know nothing of war, the first person is the most dangerous place to be in an assault team entering a room with possible hostile combatants inside.)

5. Lastly, even though there is the possibility of his entering the US illegally, he didn’t hide here he got his green card, he immediately joined our armed forces to earn his citizenship, and served honorably enough to earn the rank of sergeant. Hoorah!!! (side note: We definitely need to fix our immigration problem, this is the kind of person we should be recruiting from foreign soil while too many that get in contribute to the statistic that more US citizens are murdered in the US by illegal immigrants in one year then have been killed in the entire Iraqi War.)

Does not meet the standard of "no margin of doubt or possibility of error,"!

This needs to be sent back to the Panel after they read Heritageman's second paragraph.

(Heritageman - best description of what I believe to be true that I have read today )

I just hope that the "ALIVE" MOH recipient was one of the panel members voting to accept the nomination, those members who voted to not accept, I pray God will forgive you, I am not sure I can.