Sergeant Peralta's heroism is legendary amongst Marines, present and former. Many Americans unaffiliated with the Marine Corps are also aware of his heroism. While already wounded during the Second Battle of Fallujah, he willingly gave his life so that four others would live by smothering a live grenade with his body. Sergeant Peralta has met the established standard and demonstrated beyond any reasonable dispute that he is worthy of the Medal of Honor. Sergeant Peralta's valor is an inspiration to us all, and ought to be recognized as such.

We, the below signed, find it unconscionable that he has not been posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and respectfully petition the Secretary of Defense, and chairpersons of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, to address this.

This is from his Navy Cross citation:

"The following morning, during search and attack operations, while clearing the seventh house of the day, the point man opened a door to a back room and immediately came under intense, close-range automatic weapons fire from multiple insurgents. The squad returned fire, wounding one insurgent. While attempting to maneuver out of the line of fire, Sergeant Peralta was shot and fell mortally wounded. After the initial exchange of gunfire, the insurgents broke contact, throwing a fragmentation grenade as they fled the building. The grenade came to rest near Sergeant Peralta's head. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Peralta reached out and pulled the grenade to his body, absorbing the brunt of the blast and shielding fellow Marines only feet away. Sergeant Peralta succumbed to his wounds. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Sergeant Peralta reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service."

The criteria for the Medal of Honor in the naval service are that it ought be awarded to "a person who, while a member of the naval service, distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty [...] while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States."