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Resolution
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
AWARD FOR MARINE SGT. RAFAEL PERALTA
WHEREAS, Rafael Peralta, a
Mexican-American who lived in San Diego,
California, wanted to join the Marine Corps
after graduating from high school in San Diego
in 1997; and
WHEREAS, Peralta was a Mexican
citizen who had to wait until 2000 to receive
his legal residency and become a U.S. citizen;
and
WHEREAS, Peralta joined the
Marine Corps and was assigned to the Kaneohe’s
1st Battalion, 3rd Marines Regiment in November
2003, which arrived to Iraq in October 2004; and
WHEREAS, the Kaneohe Marines’
mission was to clear the city of insurgents
building by building, Peralta was hit several
times in the upper torso and face at point-blank
range by a fully automatic 7.62 mm weapon
employed by three terrorists. Mortally wounded,
he jumped into the already cleared adjoining
room, giving the rest of the Marines a clear
line of fire; and
WHEREAS, fellow Marines
battled the insurgents that shot Peralta, when a
live grenade bounced into the room near the
severely wounded Marine; and
WHEREAS, Peralta reached out
and pulled the grenade into his body protecting
the lives of several fellow Kaneohe Marines; and
WHEREAS, Peralta was a platoon
scout in the Kaneohe unit, which meant he could
have stayed back in safety while the squads of
the 1st Platoon went into danger-filled streets.
But Peralta was constantly asking to help; and
WHEREAS, Peralta was killed on
November 15, 2004, during the second battle of
Fallujah. He was one of the 42 Marines and 2
Navy corpsmen assigned to the 1st Battalion who
were killed in the unit’s first deployment to
Iraq; and
WHEREAS, Cpl. Richard A. Mason
said to other Marines in recognition of Sgt.
Peralta’s actions, “You’re still here, don’t
forget that. Tell your kids, your grand kids,
what Sgt. Peralta did for you and the other
Marines today;” and
WHEREAS, a spokesman for the
Marine Base in Hawaii confirmed that the name of
Peralta, 25, had been submitted for the Medal of
Honor for saving the lives of four members of
his platoon;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the United States Congress awards
the Congressional Medal of Honor to Sgt. Rafael
Peralta USMC for his heroic deeds beyond the
call of duty with intrepidity.
Approved this 14th day of July
2007.
Rosa Rosales
LULAC National President |
