Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has denied the Navy’s request to give Sgt. Rafael Peralta the Medal of Honor, with the Pentagon telling the Marine hero’s family they were reluctant to overturn a previous secretary’s decision.
Peralta died in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004 while smothering a grenade, saving the lives of the other Marines in his squad. Those Marines said Peralta scooped the grenade into himself to absorb the blast.
Peralta’s combat comrades from the firefight say there is no question he deserves the Medal of Honor.
As they entered one room, they encountered insurgents who opened fire. In the firefight, Peralta was shot in the head and fell. Seven witnesses say Peraltan scooped the grenade underneath himself, absorbing the blast and saving the lives of the men with him.
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