Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta could finally receive the nation’s highest honor for sacrificing his own life to save a group of fellow marines in Iraq.
In a renewed push 18 years after the fact, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) has introduced legislation to authorize President Donald Trump to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Peralta, of San Diego, Calif., for his extraordinary heroism during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“Sgt. Rafael Peralta embodied the highest ideals of indomitable courage and steadfast devotion to his fellow Marines and to our great country,” Issa said in a statement. “Valor never expires, and Congress has a solemn obligation to ensure that acts of valor of this magnitude receive the recognition they deserve—regardless of administrative delay or statutory limitations.”
During an assault in Fallujah on Nov. 15, 2004, Peralta pulled an enemy grenade beneath his body and was killed, sacrificing his life to save a group of nearby Marines from the device. For his valor, Peralta was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, while the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta was commissioned in his name in 2017.
Issa believes the Congressional Medal of Honor should be Peralta’s next honor, acknowledging his immense sacrifice.
“Marines who survived that room in Fallujah have spent decades bearing witness to Sgt. Peralta’s valor,” Issa said. “This bill ensures their testimony is heard and that America honors a Marine who gave his last full measure for his brothers and for the nation he loved.”
Controversy Around Honoring Peralta
The proclaimed “valor” described by Issa is not universally agreed upon. Controversy has led to a delay in awarding Peralta the Congressional Medal of Honor.
There have been multiple failed attempts to approve the honor, with three defense secretaries denying the request—citing medical and forensic reviews showing Peralta physically could not have covered the grenade with his body while being so severely injured.
Additionally, three Marines in Peralta’s unit reportedly made statements claiming the story of Peralta’s heroism was fabricated.
The text contained within Issa’s legislation, H.R. 8973, authorizes Trump to award the Medal of Honor, though it makes no mention of any scrutiny that has been pointed in Peralta’s direction.
Instead, it credits Peralta for making a split-second decision to give up his life to save others.
“Multiple eyewitness Marines reported that Sergeant Peralta consciously and intentionally pulled the grenade beneath his body, absorbing the blast and shielding nearby Marines from death or serious bodily harm,” reads the bill, introduced on May 21.
It adds: “The actions of Sergeant Peralta reflected conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the Armed Forces of the United States.”
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA) echoed the bill’s sentiments, saying that Peralta exhibited heroism, selflessness and sacrifice on the battlefield.
“During a house-clearing operation, Sgt. Rafael Peralta was mortally wounded by enemy gunfire,” Vargas said in a statement provided to Military.com. “Despite this, in his final moments, he saw a grenade nearby and, without hesitation, held onto it to absorb the shock.”
Reps. Issa and Vargas are not the only supporters of the Medal of Honor being posthumously bestowed upon Peralta. The Pentagon has also made a favorable determination that Peralta’s actions merit consideration.
However, due to the amount of time that has passed, Congress must waive the statutory time limitation before the president can act. The bill specifically authorizes Trump to award the Medal of Honor notwithstanding existing statutory limitations, according to the legislation.
