Sgt. Peralta was killed in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004, and has been nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor, but the commendation has been flipped back and forth on whether or not to award him the Medal. Sgt. Peralta was with his squad in Fallujah, when a firefight broke out. He was shot once, then an insurgent tossed a grenade into the room. he scooped the grenade under his body, to shield the blast from his squad mates, and in turn, saved all their lives. The Secretary of Defense has denied the Medal to Sgt. Peralta.
More information, details, and eye-witness accounts can be found at:
http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/12/panetta-denies-medal-honor...