Sgt. Rafael Peralta
The word hero is often times so over-used – - but not in the case of Sgt Rafael Peralta
“It’s stuff you hear about in boot camp, about World War II and Tarawa Marines who won the Medal of Honor,” Lance Corporal Rob Rogers of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment told the Army Times. Corporal Rogers was describing the actions of his fellow Marine, Sgt. Rafael Peralta, a Mexican immigrant who enlisted in the Marine Corps the day he received his green card.
Most readers of this column probably haven’t heard about Rafael Peralta. With the exception of the Los Angeles Times, most of our mainstream media haven’t bothered to write about him. The next time you log onto the Internet, do a Google search on Rafael Peralta. As of this writing, the Internet’s most used search engine will provide you with only 26 citations from news sources that have bothered to write about this heroic young man.
On the morning of November 15, 2004, the men of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines awoke before sunrise and continued what they had been doing for seven days previously – cleansing the city of Fallujah of terrorists house by house.
At the fourth house they encountered that morning the Marines kicked in the door and “cleared” the front rooms, but then noticed a locked door off to the side that required inspection. Sgt. Rafael Peralta threw open the closed door, but behind it were three terrorists with AK-47s. Peralta was hit in the head and chest with multiple shots at close range.
Peralta’s fellow Marines had to step over his body to continue the shootout with the terrorists. As the firefight raged on, a “yellow, foreign-made, oval-shaped grenade,” as Lance Corporal Travis Kaemmerer described it, rolled into the room where they were all standing and came to a stop near Peralta’s body.
But Sgt. Rafael Peralta wasn’t dead – yet. This young immigrant of 25 years, who enlisted in the Marines when he received his green card, who volunteered for the front line duty in Fallujah, had one last act of heroism in him.
This article is definitely worth taking another moment to read it in full – - click HERE
December 20, 2004 - 09:52 AM on December 20th, 2004
This Marine was a fine example of selfless service, sacrifice, and honor.
He deserves our nations highest honor.
December 20, 2004 - 10:33 AM on December 20th, 2004
Agreed TAC
December 20, 2004 - 01:29 PM on December 20th, 2004
Wow, that’s amazing.
December 20, 2004 - 01:32 PM on December 20th, 2004
Yeah, reading this makes me want to visit Simon and show him some love.
December 20, 2004 - 05:26 PM on December 20th, 2004
A true hero, put others lives before his own.
December 21, 2004 - 08:56 PM on December 21st, 2004
MOH criteria
December 22, 2004 - 12:47 PM on December 22nd, 2004
A True Hero Part III
About a month ago I first blogged about Sgt. Rafael Peralta and the heroism he displayed while in combat in Fallujah on Nov 15th. I do not want this story to die out until this Marine gets the recognition he deserves so I will continue to blog any ne…
January 11, 2005 - 05:08 PM on January 11th, 2005
This Marine should be considered for the Medal of Honor. I hope that his story will live forever.
December 12, 2008 - 03:17 PM on December 12th, 2008
he must have that Medal he has it coming, what is wrong with the BS Guys? as a Army vet I know what a hero is and is not and this guy is a real hero.