Fighting in Iraq in November 2004, Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta had already been shot in the head, but when a grenade landed near him, he covered it with his body. Peralta’s action cost him his life, but he shielded his comrades from the blast, saving numerous lives.
Scores of Marines and soldiers in previous conflicts have done the same – and were awarded the Medal of Honor. The Marine Corps put Peralta in for the decoration, but the Secretary of Defense determined that he was only deserving of the Navy Cross, the nation’s second-highest award for valor.
But new evidence has surfaced that may convince the chain of command that the fallen hero is worthy of the nation’s highest award for valor. From the Los Angeles Times: