From Illegal to Immortal--Marine Sergeant Rafael Peralta

While John "POW" McCain grabs another headline on the Drudge Report (this time regarding a heated exchange about immigration with a fellow Republican Senator), here is a story on a new American hero.

There are war casualties, war survivors and war victims. Then there are war heroes. In my view, heroes go above and beyond the call of duty, at the risk of their lives, to accomplish their mission and save the lives of their fellow Marines and soldiers. That's exactly what Rafael Peralta did.

This afternoon, at 4 p.m. PST, the History Channel and the History Channel en Espanol will simultaneously premier a one-hour special documentary called "Act of Honor" (El honor de un sacrificio) about the late Peralta, once an illegal immigrant from Tijuana. The LAT also ran a review this morning. He died in Falloujah in 2004 while saving the lives of his fellow Marines. He has been nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor. There have been two Medals of Honor awarded for veterans of Iraq, one for Marine Corporal Jason Dunham, the other for Army Sergeant First Class Paul Smith "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of [his] life above and beyond the call of duty..."

I don't have current statistics on how many Mexican Americans have perished in the War on Terror but here's a 2004 article in La Prensa. Costa Mesa's José Angel Garibay was the first Orange County casualty in Iraq. I even asked the Mexican, Gustavo and here is his reply in 2006.

I do know that I had the privilege of serving with many fine Marines of Mexican descent, a handful of officers and mostly enlisted. Years later I met John Valdez, the last Marine evacuated from the U.S. Embassy in Saigon in 1975. I didn't know and didn't care if any of them had been illegal immigrants or not. They are Marines, and Americans, and that's more than enough. The Corps appears to draw well from this fine of pool of applicants. In 1986, when I first enlisted, I secretly wished that more Vietnamese and other Asian Americans would serve in the military. I still do but that's another story.

To take a line from Gunnery Sgt. Hartman (played by Lee Ermey) from the movie, Full Metal Jacket:         
And always remember this... Marines die. That's what we're here for. But The Marine Corps lives forever. And that means you live forever.

Sergeant Peralta will live forever in Marine Corps lore. And I hope many more Americans will come to know about him.

Comments

[Gustavo Arellano]

Good post, Quang, and gracias for the plug. The only time I ever truly got offended by a question for my column was when a Marine (!) ranted about how illegals didn't have the guts to fight in Iraq, though in a much more vulgar manner. I sent him the link about Garibay--he never responded.

[J. Moreno]

Gustavo,

Just a thought but that guy probably wasn't in the Marines.

Quang,

Good job!

[J. Moreno]

Gustavo,

Just a thought but that guy probably wasn't in the Marines.

Quang,

Good job!

[Gustavo Arellano]

Nah, he was Marines--or did a damn good job of pretending, what with his citing of a particular unit and other military acronyms that I don't quite get!

[MexVet]

Here's a cut and paste from the Orange City News (May 3, 2007) regarding Mexican American veterans from right here in CA.

Author found untold veteran stories
‘Patriot of El Modena,’ Charles Rodriguez, featured in book on Mexican American war veterans.
ALEX VALLEJO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On September 16, 1942, 21-year-old Charles Rodriguez got orders to report to Fort McArthur in San Pedro.
“I’m caught, Dad,” he remembers telling his father after realizing that he had been drafted.
He was transferred to Colorado and it was there that Rodriguez learned that President Franklin D. Roosevelt had asked his division for volunteers for a special mission.
“So, me as a sucker, I got up and was ready to take my hat off and swear with an oath that I’m going to join this mission,” Rodriguez reminisced.
The El Modena resident did not expect to be part of “Merrill’s Marauders,” a commando unit which fought Japanese forces in the 1944 Burma campaign. Out of the 3,000 Marauders who traversed hundreds of miles of jungle, less than 200 survived.
On Monday, May 7, Rodriguez will join Cal State Fullerton professor and co-editor, Charlene Riggins, at George’s Place Restaurant in Orange for a book signing event for the new book: “Forgotten Patriots: Voices of WWII Mexican American Veterans of Southern California.”
The book is a compilation of the military contributions and sacrifices that Mexican-Americans from California have made in the military.
“The stories of Mexican Americans who have been patriotic need to be told,” said his son, Samuel Rodriguez. “I think that what my dad’s story shows is that Mexican Americans have given their lives for their country.”
He added that this book pays a long-overdue tribute to Mexican American veterans.
“There really hasn’t been a book that documents the stories of Mexican Americans,” he said. “Many of the stories are forgotten when they die; the stories need to be recorded because they are an important part of this nation.”
For Riggins, working on the project allowed her to delve into the experiences of Mexican-American soldiers.
Rodriguez in particular, whom she dubbed “The Patriot of El Modena,” shared some irreverent moments. He vividly recalls making a harrowing escape after his unit was pinned down by Japanese forces.
“He remembers dropping his wallet and being upset that a Japanese soldier would have a photo of his wife,” Riggins said. “Here he is escaping just in time and his main concern was still back home.”
“Forgotten Patriots” also explores the plight of women who remained at the home front while their loved ones served their country. To show their solidarity, the women sewed flags, planted victory gardens and retioned supplies.
“I found (the women) to be extremely fascinating,” Riggins explained. “While the men were off fighting the women had to deal with rations... We read about it, but to actually go through that is inspiring.”
The project brought a sense of understanding to Riggins, which she hopes will come across to the readers.
“Personally, I have received an enlightenment on the Mexican-American community,” Riggins said. “They’ve developed a great sense of pride for what they have done, for what they have endured and what they will continue to endure.”

Book signings
Title: “Forgotten Patriots: Voices of WWII Mexican American Veterans of Southern California” Authors: Charlene Riggins and Miguel A. Garcia co-edited the compilation of interviews. When & where: 5 p.m. Monday, May 7 at George’s Place, 4420 E. Chapman Ave. in Orange; and Friday, May 1 1 at Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd. Book cost: $20 Contact: Center for Oral and Public History, 7 1 4-278-3580 or
coph.fullerton.edu

Americans of Mexican descent have made numerous sacrifices to America. I doubt all of them were here legally. But I could be wrong.

[Art Pedroza]

Great post Quang! I hope that those who regularly malign Latino immigrants will read it.

Mexican Americans have given their lives in the U.S. armed forces for years. It is a fact that is often overlooked.

We really ought to offer U.S. citizenship to such veterans who lack official status in our country.

[just...asking]

Great Post!

This is just one of those little known historical facts. Throughout our history this country has been blessed with people willing to stand up and fight for the true "American" ideals. The fact that many were recent or "illegal" immigrants did not change the color of the blood they spilled for us!

Today one can buy citizenship with a good attorney and a fat bank account. Is not a better test; a person willing to fight and die for his or her adopted country?

I agree in Art's call for citizenship for those veterans and those still serving (upon completion of tour).

[Quang]

The special was very very well done. I felt for Peralta's family, especially his mom who also lost her husband due to a work-related death. In 2004, POTUS GWB signed an order to expedite citizenship for those in uniform.
http://immigration.about.com/od/uscitizenshiprequirements/i/MilitCitizenIss.htm

Faster, Easier Citizenship for Military Personnel: Both Sides of the Issue / Pol
From Jennifer & Peter Wipf,
Your Guide to Immigration Issues.
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Some members of the military are not U.S. citizens, and thus are defending a country in which they don't have certain rights, including the right to vote for those who will ultimately send them to battle.
Latest Developments
This was a hot campaign issue back in 2004. Senator John Kerry (D-Mass) was George W. Bush's opponent in the presidential race at that time, and Bush stole some of Kerry's campaign thunder by signing into law some of the very changes Kerry was proposing as part of his election campaign strategy to attract minority votes. Even after his loss, Kerry continues to work on taking his proposals a step further.
Background
There are 60,000 immigrants in the U.S. military. They represent two percent of the total service personnel on active duty. About half are noncitizens, with 15,880 in the navy; of those, 5,046 are from the Philippines. More than 6,000 Marines are noncitizens, with the largest group, 1,452, from Mexico.

In 2004, President Bush signed an order allowing all active-duty immigrants serving as of Sept. 11, 2001, to apply for U.S. citizenship without waiting the usual three years, and without having to be physically present in the States in order to apply. Now, immigrants serving in the army, navy, marine corps, air force, coast guard, parts of the national guard and Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve may be eligible to apply for citizenship if they can 1) Demonstrate good moral character/have no criminal record, 2) can speak English, 3) can demonstrate knowledge of U.S. government and history, and take an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution. The applicant must also have served honorably during one year of conflict, have a green card, or have been present in the U.S. at time of enlistment. The application must be filed within six months of discharge.

A flood of inquiries from Mexicans and other foreigners prompted the military to state that it will only accept U.S. legal residents and citizens at this time. Beyond the societal benefits of citizenship, non-citizens in the military cannot become officers, and must leave the military after eight years of service.

One proponent of greater immigration privileges for military personnel is Democratic Rep. Martin Frost, whose territory includes the Dallas, Forth Worth and Arlington areas, with a large number of Mexican immigrant soldiers. He introduced a bill well before the Bush administration made its changes, which would make it easier for immigrants to get naturalized at U.S. military bases, embassies and consulates, rather than having to travel to do so.

[HonorOurHeroes]

Illegal? I've been following the heroic story of Sgt. Peralta and I haven't heard that from any other source. How then would he have obtained adjustment of status? I don't know of any current policy that allows one in his situation to go from illegal to permanent residency, otherwise a lot of people would have done that by now. What I have heard instead was that his father came to the U.S. on a working visa and then brought the rest of the family, over.

[1/3 marine]

I served with Sgt. Peralta and he was not an illegal immigrant. Not to take away from any immigrant who fights for this country. Just don't use Sgt. Peralta for an arguement he shouldn't be a part of.