Lawmakers ask Bush to review Navy Cross award

[unhappycamper]

Lawmakers ask Bush to review Navy Cross award
By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 22, 2008 7:30:47 EDT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Members of California’s congressional delegation on Friday implored President Bush to review the Pentagon’s decision not to posthumously award the coveted Medal of Honor to a Marine who absorbed the blast of an enemy grenade to protect other Marines in Iraq.

Sgt. Rafael Peralta of San Diego died from his wounds as he and his infantry rifle platoon battled insurgents inside a Fallujah house Nov. 15, 2004.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., circulated the letter that garnered the support of seven other congressional members: Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif., Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif., Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif.

“We’ve got great bipartisan representation in this letter,” said Hunter’s spokesman, Joe Kasper. “I really think it’s going to make a strong statement to the White House to at least give the medal some consideration.”

The congressional members reacted with “extreme disappointment” to the decision, made by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, to reject Peralta’s nomination for the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for combat valor. Navy Secretary Donald Winter endorsed the nomination, which had garnered strong support from the Marine Corps and U.S. Central Command, and forwarded it to the Defense Department last year. On Wednesday, Winter announced he will award the Navy Cross, the nation’s second-highest award and the top combat award a service secretary can bestow, posthumously to Peralta, 25.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/09/marine_peralta_navycross_091908/%2e