“…the Pentagon denied Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta the Medal of Honor. [He] instead received a posthumous Navy Cross. He died after smothering an enemy grenade Nov. 15, 2004, during house-to-house combat in Fallujah, Iraq...After a review of "forensics" and "previous investigations" they can't determine whether he deliberately covered the grenade. So one possibility is that it ?rolled underneath him? Because the other (unstated) implication is that when his squad members saw the grenade land, they threw his severely wounded (or already dead?) body on top of the grenade to smother it?? I suppose that has happened many times in modern war, and is logical and understandable, but it's disturbing to think about.
Several members of his squad have said Peralta's actions saved their lives.
The Marine Corps… had recommended that Peralta receive the Medal of Honor… But Secretary of Defense Robert Gates denied the request after a review of forensics reports and previous investigations.
It couldn't be determined whether Peralta, severely wounded, deliberately covered the grenade, Gates concluded.
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» This news story is slightly unsettling...