Short-changed 'cause he had been an illegal?

[franklie 0]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080918/ap_on_...eath_by_grenade

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/...honor18.art.htm

From the article:

Peralta first came to the United States from Mexico without legal documentation as a teen and joined the Marines the day he got his green card on April 17, 2000. He later became a naturalized citizen.

A rare decision by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to reject a Marine Corps recommendation that one of its heroes receive the Medal of Honor has angered Marines who say Sgt. Rafael Peralta sacrificed his life to save theirs.

Peralta's family was notified of the decision Wednesday by Lt. Gen. Richard Natonski, a top Marine Corps commander. Col. David Lapan, a Marine spokesman, said he was unaware of any recent award nomination that was denied in this way.

A Gates-appointed panel unanimously concluded that the report on Peralta's action did not meet the standard of "no margin of doubt or possibility of error," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. The argument about whether to award Peralta the nation's highest military honor centers on whether a mortally wounded Marine could have intentionally reached for the grenade after suffering a serious head wound.

Peralta had been shot in the head before he covered the grenade, a Marine investigation said. The report concluded he was hit by a ricochet that likely came from the gun of another Marine while they were clearing insurgents from a local home.

After he was wounded, the report said, Peralta scooped an insurgent grenade under his body, absorbed the blast and died, according to five of the Marines who were with Peralta during the firefight.

[Mononoke28 137]

Were the reasons given of why the medal was denied?

Diana

[alienlovechild 75]

Couldn't read the second article but it said nothing about him being denied a MOH because he was illegal. There was something about "friendly fire" in the incident marring the award.

He said that because there was some contradictory evidence, Gates instead took the extra step of asking five other individuals to review the case — a former commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, a Medal of Honor recipient, a civilian neurosurgeon who is retired from the military and two forensic pathologists who also are military retirees.

The five were given medical reports that had not been available in the initial review. They thoroughly reviewed the case again, including inspecting the evidence and re-enacting the event, Whitman said.

"Each independently recommended to the secretary that the evidence did not support the award of Medal of Honor," he said.

The Navy Cross isn't a slap in the face either and very few MOH have been given out for those serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. A lot of guys did some heroic feats but there have only been 6 MOH awarded so far so I doubt he'll get one after a review was already done.

[YuAndDan 153]

From what you posted it looks like having entered the USA as an illegal had nothing to do with the decision he was a naturalized US Citizen, looks more like the decision had to do with the question if he could have actually done what they say after getting shot.

Just looks like they were splitting hairs.

[Mononoke28 137]

Yeah, that's what I thought. I don't think it had anything to do with his illegal status when he joined but more of the actual events that took place. It sounds like someone was just trying to rile everybody up.

Diana

[Ban Hammer 14,294]

Yeah, that's what I thought. I don't think it had anything to do with his illegal status when he joined but more of the actual events that took place. It sounds like someone was just trying to rile everybody up.

Diana

agreed

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Indeed -- the reason had nothing to do with his entry, since he is a USC now.

[franklie 0]

Indeed -- the reason had nothing to do with his entry, since he is a DEAD USC now.

actually from my neck of the woods, people are saying he didn't get the MOH because he originally was an illegal or because he was Mexican. There is a strong militant La Raza influence down here in SD.

but as has been mentioned earlier, the Navy Cross is nothing to sneeze at. That is an award that also says that the recipient was valorous beyond the call of duty.

The MOH I believe has some additional benefits that the Navy Cross does not among them a monthly pension of $1000/mo, free entrance to the service academies for the recipient or children of the recipient.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Yeah, that's what I thought. I don't think it had anything to do with his illegal status when he joined but more of the actual events that took place. It sounds like someone was just trying to rile everybody up.

Diana

agreed

seconded

[akdiver 3]

Of course, when people don't get what they want, if they're not white, they're lucky enough to get the play the race card - thus putting decision-makers in a politically unpopular position which forces them to kowtow to whatever the request is.

As soon as the race card story gets more press, he'll get an upgrade to the MOH - despite the fact that a panel of distinguished and qualified personnel determined the standard was not met, Bush or someone else will miraculously determine otherwise.

FWIW, they're not "splitting hairs". There is a defined standard to determine who gets the medal. This standard protects the honor from being given it out willie nillie, thus cheapening it, much like everything else in this country has been cheapened.

If he didn't meet the standard, then it doesn't matter by how little he fell short. If you're short, you're short. Period.

Politicizing the issue does nothing more than cheapen the entire process and cast doubt on everyone.

Edited September 20, 2008 by akdiver

[Pooky 3,876]

The Medal Of Honor should NEVER become a political football.

It is for valor in combat and should not be held hostage to questions of race, status, or political expediency.

[luckytxn 2,265]

I read this story yesterday and I see someone left out a lot of the reasons he didn't get the award. It seems that two investigations went on. The military one that concluded the facts were there and was deemed worthy and sent higher up and by the time it reached Gates it was deemed that it needed a second look as there were some inconsistencies. It was given to a panel of 5 retired military people and one of whom was a Medal of honor receipient. They went over the whole mess again and even reinterviewed the eyewitnesses and reenacted the scene and looked at forensics. It was deemed that maybe the story did not jibe quite the way it was played out. Apparently a dead corpse can't reach out and scoop up a grenade

The Medal of Honor is a medal that is heavily scrutinized as it is a rare medal for a reason. It was never even brought out that he was a former illegal at all. Even if he had been and it was possible it makes no difference as he was in uniform of the U.S. Military. He is a hero regardless.

[scotty 0]

When there is reasonable doubt in this case why do they not side with the guy who joined up to fight for his country,this is typical of the top brass in this country,this man smothered a grenadade to save his comrades, ####### are the panel thinking about.

Regards Scotty

[luckytxn 2,265]

The Medal Of Honor should NEVER become a political football.

It is for valor in combat and should not be held hostage to questions of race, status, or political expediency.

The Medal of Honor is for Valor above and beyond the call of duty. The distinguished medal is a valor of exceptional duty. The bronze and silver star are for valor. There is a huge leap and The Medal of Honor is never given except it can be established beyond a reasonable doubt that it belongs. In this case it may be very well that he maybe did not even deserve the distinguished cross but was given it as a consolation and that is wrong. He may have deserved the bronze or the silver star.

[luckytxn 2,265]

When there is reasonable doubt in this case why do they not side with the guy who joined up to fight for his country,this is typical of the top brass in this country,this man smothered a grenadade to save his comrades, ####### are the panel thinking about.

Regards Scotty

They would love to honor him of the medal of honor if he deserves it. In this case and maybe you should reread what I typed at first. The person who started this did not quote the entire article at all. They left out the investigation that showed there was really a big doubt that the action deserved the Medal of Honor.

And again I will say it in capitals. DEAD CORPSES CAN'T SWOOP AND BRING IN GRENADES.