Rafael Peralta's mother will petition congress to award the marine the Medal of Honor.
Specifically:
Sec. of Defense Gates convened five experts, including a neurosurgeon, two pathologists, a forensics scientist and a Medal of Honor winner to conduct a review of the medical records, autopsy and witness statements.
My thoughts are that they decided to leave it at a Navy Cross because they could not be certain that Peralta was actually capable of performing the act described by his fellow marines based on his injuries. Further, and without any records to review, that they may have suspected that there was collusion on the witness statements, but would rather not try to prove it several years later and possibly taint other people's careers or lives. Particularly those who may have already left the military.
But, that is my suspicion supported by nothing more than expecting the military to try to cover all bases including providing recognition for Peralta's over all contribution while not damaging anyone else. I suspect, though, that this will go the way of the Tillman investigation (will the DoD never learn?) and, eventually, all of the records will be out for everyone to review.
Good or bad. It may dirty more people in the end than if they simply released it, made a final pronouncement, told the truth (no matter how painful) as it is seen by the information, identified probable shooter(s) and moved on.
Peralta's mother will not give it up, I think. Unfortunately, it may be that the DoD simply cannot tell what is reality after all this time and, no matter what they do, no one will be happy with the outcome.
(Thank you Joe for the name correction.)
The Problem:
Rosa Peralta said Thursday she made the decision after a Marine general told her that her son, Sgt. Rafael Peralta, would be awarded the Navy Cross rather than the Medal of Honor because the nomination was tainted by reports he was accidentally shot by a fellow Marine shortly before an insurgent lobbed the grenade.
"There was conflicting evidence in the case of Sgt. Peralta as to whether he could have performed his final acts given the nature of his injuries," said Capt. Beci Brenton, spokeswoman for Navy Secretary Donald Winter.
Specifically:
Peralta was shot several times in the face and body during a house-to-house search in Fallujah on Nov. 15, 2004, during some of the fiercest fighting of the war.[snip]
The report found sufficient evidence existed to believe that Peralta was probably shot by a fellow Marine and that a gunshot wound to the head and injuries to the head from a grenade caused his death.
Sec. of Defense Gates convened five experts, including a neurosurgeon, two pathologists, a forensics scientist and a Medal of Honor winner to conduct a review of the medical records, autopsy and witness statements.
My thoughts are that they decided to leave it at a Navy Cross because they could not be certain that Peralta was actually capable of performing the act described by his fellow marines based on his injuries. Further, and without any records to review, that they may have suspected that there was collusion on the witness statements, but would rather not try to prove it several years later and possibly taint other people's careers or lives. Particularly those who may have already left the military.
But, that is my suspicion supported by nothing more than expecting the military to try to cover all bases including providing recognition for Peralta's over all contribution while not damaging anyone else. I suspect, though, that this will go the way of the Tillman investigation (will the DoD never learn?) and, eventually, all of the records will be out for everyone to review.
Good or bad. It may dirty more people in the end than if they simply released it, made a final pronouncement, told the truth (no matter how painful) as it is seen by the information, identified probable shooter(s) and moved on.
Peralta's mother will not give it up, I think. Unfortunately, it may be that the DoD simply cannot tell what is reality after all this time and, no matter what they do, no one will be happy with the outcome.
(Thank you Joe for the name correction.)
If someone did not throw him on that grenade he is deserving of the MOH. He gave his life for his buddies!
If this is the sort of criteria and the type of research to be done before awarding The Medal, then I expect that the same sort of due diligence will be applied to ALL awards.
To my mind, there are far too many staff weenies and other RAMF's walking around with bits of coloured cloth and tin hanging on their chests who did MUCH less to earn them, and in many cases simply were within the technical parameters of the award.
This Marine deserves The Medal, and by all accounts OUGHT to receive it. If he doesn't, then I would like to have the General who denied it to him stand on a podium in front of the cameras and read the citations for, and justify, every single award HE is wearing.
Quit 'effn around and award Jose Peralta The Medal of Honour. If not for himself, then on behalf of those who gave their all and remain unknown to us to this day.
However, the award criteria are rightly set high and demanding of total confirmation, preserving this as one of the few awards that have not been cheapened by ever more lenient standards (down to laughable generosity at some levels).
Peralta probably earned the MOH. I would like to see his family receive it, but the Navy Cross is nearly as appropriate. We are certainly honored by the service of such outstanding men, and their families deserve our everlasting respect and assistance regardless of the color of the ribbon.
Carlos Hatchock went thru a similar lengthy and ultimately unsuccessful nomination for the MOH and ended up with the Navy Cross. Many felt he was shortchanged as well. He merely felt he was a Marine doing his duty.