Wounded in the head and body, Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta pulled an enemy grenade under his body and saved members of his unit going through a terrorist hideout in Fallujah.
President Bush was so moved by Sgt. Peralta's heroics that he cited the Marine at a Memorial Day speech in 2005. Peralta's mother was called by the Undersecretary of the Navy and told her son's nomination for the Medal of Honor would be forwarded to the White House.
Yet now Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has removed the nomination for consideration, saying the Marine only deserves the Navy Cross.
That is quite an insult, to any Marine and anyone who has been on the battlefield. The Bush administration continues to reveal how much less of people its members are when it comes to integrity compared to our men and women on the field of battle.
Forty-four Americans of Hispanic descent have received the Medal of Honor, beginning with the Battle of Gettysburg. Marines have always been the first in and the last out, never leaving a comrade on the field of battle.
Semper Fi, always faithful. If only the president and his administration could be the same. Read more at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080919/ap_on_re_us/death_by_grenade;_ylt=AheFyYvm_Z9SO8JYtPxXEpRvzwcF
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment