1. Rafael Peralta was a United States Marine killed in combat during the Second Battle of Fallujah during the Iraq War.
18 Facts About Rafael Peralta
1. 2.
Rafael Peralta joined the United States Marine Corps when he received his green card in 2000, and became a United States citizen while serving in the Marine Corps.
3.
On November 15,2004, the 25-year-old Rafael Peralta deployed to Iraq as a sergeant and scout team leader assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment to clear houses in the Second Battle of Fallujah.
4.
Rafael Peralta led his team through three house-clearings before charging into the fourth house.
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Rafael Peralta fell to the floor, moving aside to enable the Marines behind him to return fire.
6.
The insurgents threw a hand grenade at the Marines, and the two Marines with Rafael Peralta tried to get out of the room but could not.
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Still conscious on the floor, despite his wounds Rafael Peralta reportedly pulled the grenade under his body, absorbing most of the blast and shrapnel.
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Rafael Peralta died instantly, but saved the lives of his fellow Marines.
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Rafael Peralta is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
10.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates rejected the Marine Corps recommendation, saying that his panel unanimously confirmed that Rafael Peralta's actions did not meet the Medal of Honor standard "without any possibility of error or doubt".
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Gates' central argument related to whether the already-mortally-wounded Rafael Peralta could have intentionally reached for the grenade, shielding his fellow Marines from the blast.
12.
Doubt arose when some believed that Rafael Peralta was clinically dead when the grenade was thrown.
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Lawmakers continued their efforts; of seven nominations for the Medal of Honor reaching the Secretary of Defense, Rafael Peralta's was the only one not approved.
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In March 2012 the Marine Corps Times reported that navy officials were reviewing new evidence related to Rafael Peralta's case, including two videos and a pathology report.
15.
Hunter said he would appeal, introducing a resolution co-sponsored by fellow California Representative Xavier Becerra which recommended that Rafael Peralta receive the Medal of Honor.
16.
Rafael Peralta had long wanted to be a San Diego police officer, and the badge was presented to his mother.
17.
The History Channel produced a one-hour documentary in Spanish and English about Rafael Peralta, Act of Honor, which appeared on THC Classroom.
18.
Rafael Peralta was honorably discharged in January 2014, after serving in Afghanistan.