No more heroes?
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Oliver North
December 17, 2004
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- "It's stuff you hear about in boot camp, about World War II and Tarawa Marines who won the Medal of Honor," Lance Cpl. Rob Rogers of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment told the Army Times. Rogers was describing the actions of his fellow Marine, Sgt. Rafael Peralta, a Mexican immigrant who enlisted in the Marine Corps the day he received his green card.
Most readers of this column probably haven't heard about Rafael Peralta. With the exception of the Los Angeles Times, most of our mainstream media haven't bothered to write about him. The next time you log onto the Internet, do a Google search on Rafael Peralta. As of this writing, the Internet's most used search engine will provide you with only 26 citations from news sources that have bothered to write about this heroic young man.
Then, just for giggles, do a Google search on Pablo Paredes. Hundreds of media outlets have written about him. The wire services have blasted his story to thousands of newspapers. Television and radio debate programs gladly provide the public with talking heads that can speak eloquently on the actions of Pablo Paredes.
You see, Pablo Paredes, a Navy petty officer 3rd class, did something the liberal elites consider "heroic" and the media consider "newsworthy" -- he defied an order. Last week, Paredes refused to board his ship bound for Iraq along with 5,000 other sailors and Marines. He showed up on the pier wearing a black t-shirt that read, "Like a Cabinet member, I resign."
We know this because Paredes had the courtesy and forethought to notify the local media that he would commit an act of cowardice the following day. Perhaps he hoped to follow the lead of another famous war protestor who went on to become a U.S. senator and his party's presidential nominee by throwing away his military medals. Paredes stopped short of trashing his military I.D. in front of the cameras because he said he didn't want to be charged with the destruction of government property. The media, we are promised, will continue to follow this story intently.
It is a shame that the media focus on such acts when they could tell stories about real heroes like Peralta, who "saved the life of my son and every Marine in that room," according to Garry Morrison, the father of a Marine in Peralta's unit -- Lance Cpl. Adam Morrison.
On the morning of Nov. 15, 2004, the men of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines awoke before sunrise and continued what they had been doing for seven days previously -- cleansing the city of Fallujah of terrorists house by house.
At the fourth house they encountered that morning, the Marines kicked in the door and "cleared" the front rooms, but then noticed a locked door off to the side that required inspection. Peralta threw open the closed door, but behind it were three terrorists with AK-47s. Peralta was hit in the head and chest with multiple shots at close range.
Peralta's fellow Marines had to step over his body to continue the shootout with the terrorists. As the firefight raged on, a "yellow, foreign-made, oval-shaped grenade," as Lance Cpl. Travis Kaemmerer described it, rolled into the room where they were all standing and came to a stop near Peralta's body.
But Sgt. Rafael Peralta wasn't dead -- yet. This young immigrant of 25 years, who enlisted in the Marines when he received his green card, who volunteered for the front line duty in Fallujah, had one last act of heroism in him.
Peralta was the polar opposite of Paredes, the petty officer who turned his back on his shipmates and mocked his commander in chief. Peralta was proud to serve his adopted country. In his parent's home, on his bedroom walls hung only three items -- a copy of the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights and his boot camp graduation certificate. Before he set out for Fallujah, he wrote to his 14-year-old brother, "Be proud of me, bro ... and be proud of being an American."
Not only can Rafael's family be proud of him, but his fellow Marines are alive because of him. As Peralta lay near death on the floor of a Fallujah terrorist hideout, he spotted the yellow grenade that had rolled next to his near-lifeless body. Once detonated, it would take out the rest of Peralta's squad. To save his fellow Marines, Peralta reached out, grabbed the grenade and tucked it under his abdomen, where it exploded.
"Most of the Marines in the house were in the immediate area of the grenade," Kaemmerer said. "We will never forget the second chance at life that Sgt. Peralta gave us."
Unfortunately, unlike Paredes, Peralta will get little media coverage. He is unlikely to have books written about him or movies made about his extraordinarily selfless sacrifice. But he is likely to receive the Medal of Honor. And that Medal of Honor is likely to be displayed next to the only items that hung on his bedroom wall -- the Constitution, Bill of Rights and his Boot Camp graduation certificate.
Yes, Virginia, there are still heroes in America, and Sgt. Rafael Peralta was one of them. It's just too bad the media can't recognize them.
Oliver North is a nationally syndicated columnist, host of the Fox News Channel's War Stories and founder and honorary chairman of Freedom Alliance.
©2004 Creators Syndicate, Inc.
Contact Oliver North | Read North's biography
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Reply 1 - Posted by: earlybird, 12/17/2004 12:53:08 PM
If you don't read anything else today, read this inspiring story. One of North's best. He writes this with a soldier's passion.
Reply 2 - Posted by: noddy, 12/17/2004 1:01:01 PM
Thank you for a wonderful story of a true American Hero. The LSM may not give him a mention, however there are some young men and their families who will never forget him. And thanks to Olly North, neither will we. And thank you to this brave young man's family who raised such a terrific person.
Reply 3 - Posted by: jmrrausa, 12/17/2004 1:03:31 PM
This story brought tears to my eyes. What an incredibly brave man and what a great American. Paredes should be made to read this article.
Reply 4 - Posted by: JHSMom02, 12/17/2004 1:04:03 PM
Saints of God, come to his aid. Hasten to meet him, angels of the Lord. Receive his soul, and present him to God the Most High. May Christ, who called you, take you to Himself; may angels lead you to the bosom of Abraham. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Reply 5 - Posted by: applepie, 12/17/2004 1:04:58 PM
What a goose-bumper! I couldn't get through the article without my kleenex. This should be a must read.
Reply 6 - Posted by: dblenicklebob, 12/17/2004 1:07:39 PM
Too bad Ollie can't celebrate this heroe without getting his clumsy partisan chops in the way
Reply 7 - Posted by: alto, 12/17/2004 1:14:15 PM
Tears of sadness pool my eyes reading about this brave hero. Adding to this is the loss of my Uncle Al this morning. A WW11 hero. He was a guard at the Nuremburg Trials. People like Rafael and my Uncle Al are my heros. I'll never forget them. They, and all others like them remain in my heart.Thank you Al and thank you rafael!
Reply 8 - Posted by: tocsin, 12/17/2004 1:14:56 PM
''clumsy partisan chops in the way''
twit
Reply 9 - Posted by: shepsmum, 12/17/2004 1:19:03 PM
I cried. What a hero. We're so lucky to have men like this. The MSM has a lot to answer for...I sent this to some friends, at least my circle of friends will know about wonderful Sgt. Peralta (two of them already called, and their voices were cracking, so I think they cried too).
Alto -- your Uncle Al is probably giving Sgt. Peralta a big pat on the back right now.
Reply 10 - Posted by: JHSMom02, 12/17/2004 1:22:24 PM
I'm thinking that St. Michael, the Archangle, is pinning on the MOH himself. And I'm thinking that we have another Marine guarding the streets of Heaven. No greater love.....
Reply 11 - Posted by: noddy, 12/17/2004 1:27:59 PM
Thank you for your story alto, and Thank You Uncle Al.
Reply 12 - Posted by: MsCharlotteVale, 12/17/2004 1:34:06 PM
"And that Medal of Honor is likely to be displayed next to the only items that hung on his bedroom wall -- the Constitution, Bill of Rights and his Boot Camp graduation certificate."
You don't have to have been born in America to have that American spirit. North is right in that the MSM would rather write about a deserter than a hero. To the media, the deserter is the hero.
Reply 13 - Posted by: woodenleg, 12/17/2004 1:42:26 PM
Why do we have to lose people with such grit....................and low life panty-waist mamma's boys get trips to morning talk shows???
Reply 14 - Posted by: Angry Little Man, 12/17/2004 1:46:26 PM
Will there be a place in heaven
For a person such as me
Who, through youth and the love for life
Isn't all you'd have me be?
I've been a man but a short time now
And I'll ask you this, if I might
Isn't fighting for freedom's cause
A fight that's always right?
The men I've killed, some things I've done
Are not things I've wanted to do
But a job I believe had to be done
By we who believe in you
I had those thoughts upon my mind
When I heard that deadly sound
Then, all around me, one by one
My friends fell to the ground
Somehow I knew before it hit
Fear ran up my spine
I felt the blast tearing my side
I knew this one was mine
There'll be much grief for loved ones at home
when they learn that I am dead
Please ease their pain and let them know
These things that I have said
Time's run out, I can feel death's sting
Oh, God, please hear my plea
Let there be a place in heaven
For a person such as me
Reply 15 - Posted by: Angry Little Man, 12/17/2004 1:52:13 PM
(cont'd)...
Lord, this is the chaplain, I'm here with this lad
Our country's given the finest it had
We who are older and have studied your word
Know this boy's prayer is more than just heard
It is answered with your love
And the promise that there'll be
A special place in heaven
For a person such as he.
God Bless this man, and bring comfort to his family.
excerpt from
"A Soldier's Prayer"
(Larry Walker, Tommy Oliver)
Reply 16 - Posted by: SeattleJohn, 12/17/2004 2:22:38 PM
#6: I'm not sure what you mean by partisan... the contrast of the media's coverage of this hero's story with that of a media-seeking coward?
Sincerely, help me out here.
Reply 17 - Posted by: ketchuplover, 12/17/2004 3:23:41 PM
What a great story! Thanks for posting it. It gets my "second" for a must-read.
I suspect the "partisan" comment has to do with Ollie's reference to Kerry. Get over it, #6. Almost 50 million people voted for that self-serving coward-- the contrasts need to continually be pointed out. God bless this soldier's family. I'm forwarding this story to many friends.
Reply 18 - Posted by: afraidfortherepublic, 12/17/2004 3:38:30 PM
... tears welling in my eyes...Rafael Peralta will be first on my prayer list at Mass this week and every week after. May he rest in peace and may the Perpetual Light shine upon him.
Reply 19 - Posted by: steveW, 12/17/2004 4:09:31 PM
Something to remember the next time the MSM does yet another heartfelt story about "concerned" "anti-war" citizens. At some point, they must be forced to admit whose side they're on. Thanks, Col. North.
Reply 20 - Posted by: osu mom, 12/17/2004 4:28:01 PM
Great story.
Reply 21 - Posted by: WhamDBambam, 12/17/2004 4:41:21 PM
May the yellow running dogs of the press read this and shrivel in their souls.
Reply 22 - Posted by: 4LadyK, 12/17/2004 4:46:33 PM
Both the article and the Soldier's prayer are priceless reading.
Reading true stories of courage and honor like this one makes me so angry at the MSM and shows me even more clearly whose side the MSM is on, and it isn't ours. They aren't on our troops side.
God, please bless our fighting men and women. In You Son's name, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Reply 23 - Posted by: WeenerDog, 12/17/2004 4:48:22 PM
No man has greater love than this, to give his life for his friends.
Reply 24 - Posted by: pepperblue, 12/17/2004 5:00:15 PM
Oh my. I e-mailed everyone on my list with this must-read story. God bless our troops and the Afghanistan and Iraq people fighting for their freedom -- may they breathe peace and freedom soon!
Reply 25 - Posted by: browneyes , 12/17/2004 5:01:03 PM
May GOD bless Uncle Al and Rafael. One from each of the Greatest generations.
Reply 26 - Posted by: Yorkiemom, 12/17/2004 5:18:16 PM
Prayers and thanks to the family of Sgt. Peralta. I hope you never regret your actions, Paredos. I imagine even Kerry has since it kept him from his life long dream.
Reply 27 - Posted by: ussalaska, 12/17/2004 5:33:52 PM
tencentboobi, partisan chops? if you mean that little reference to the traitor kerry, that was fact, not partisan. kerry consorted with the commmunists during a time of war. he gave aid and comfort to the enemy. he was and remains a traitor. if you focus on that instead of this wonderful hero {there is no "e" on the end of hero, but what would a lefty know about heros} you have no soul.
Reply 28 - Posted by: Halfgenius, 12/17/2004 5:47:24 PM
Perhaps the media won't give this man his due, But I'd be willing to bet that the man that counts the votes in the sky, the big guy, will take notice. He gave his life so others might live, what more can be asked of a man.
Reply 29 - Posted by: usmcsarge, 12/17/2004 5:51:38 PM
Many of America's greatest war heroes served in Vietnam (Bob Howard - the highest decorated [with Vietnam decorations], Bud Day - the highest decorated, period, Roy Benavidez come quickly to mind). 99% of Americans never heard of them. Thank you, LSM. I am hoping this will not be the case in re Iraq/Afghanista, but I'm getting that old sinking feeling again. There has next to no coverage of several very heroic Marines and soldiers to date. This story confirms my growing pessimism. I get to the point where I feel that nearly the entire media hates this country. And the Hollyweird zillionaires who drone on while our boys live in filth and face incomprehensible dangers every day, well, I won't get myself started.
The whiner above should switch to (won't)MoveOn or DemocraticUnderground. Whenever I hear a Leftoid moan about conservtives be "partisan" I come close to wetting my pants. They are delusional.
Old Marine Sarge
Reply 30 - Posted by: mythman, 12/17/2004 6:06:36 PM
Thank you #4, for your elequent prayer for Rafael Paralta. And thank you, Ollie, for for your continued recognition of great Americans, who, like yourself, served their country in time of need, regardless of what cowards thought. I will read this to my classes tomorrow in high school, and post it.
Reply 31 - Posted by: dblenicklebob, 12/17/2004 6:20:17 PM
Ollie mucks up the story of this genuine hero with this bit :
"You see, Pablo Paredes, a Navy petty officer 3rd class, did something the liberal elites consider "heroic" .... he defied an order "
Reply 32 - Posted by: jj1319, 12/17/2004 6:38:48 PM
#4, Thank you, bless you.
#6, Shut it.
Reply 33 - Posted by: Penney, 12/17/2004 7:01:09 PM
Sgt. Rafael Peralta is a true hero and patriot. Words fail in response to his great sacrifice & selfless service for others, for liberty. Thanks to Ollie, we now know about this unbelievably courageous young man & are praying for his family.
The bias, totally skewed msm reveals the lefty/lib, PC clan WHICH THEY ARE, by simply refusing to acknowledge such valor in our American troops. They also refuse to report anything positive happening Afghanistan & Iraq. ...At least they have stopped showing Al Jazeera stream, ...for the moment. It is obvious where the sympathies of the anti-majority, shameless msm are.
Reply 34 - Posted by: JHSMom02, 12/17/2004 7:24:47 PM
I wish I could take credit for the prayer, but it is part of a hymn called Song of Farewell, used at the Mass of the Resurrection, formerly known as a funeral Mass. If Sgt. Peralta was RC, that will be song at the end of Mass. I sing in our church choir for funeral Masses, and that hymn always deeply touches me. It always gives me and, I'm sure, the families hope in the resurrection in Christ Jesus for the loved one. And I'm sure that is all our hope for this fine young hero.
Reply 35 - Posted by: doubting thomas, 12/17/2004 7:55:51 PM
A very moving report about a brave, brave man, may God rest his soul. Thank You, Col.North........Semper Fi
Reply 36 - Posted by: Publius3457, 12/17/2004 8:05:24 PM
To be severly (and probably fatally) wounded, and still retain enough command of yourself and the situation of your squad to die in self-sacrifice in the midst of your most terrible pain and fear demonstrates the highest degrees of courage, training and honor.
Thank God there's still one at least one part of this country the Left hasn't yet managed to destroy: the United States Marines.
Rest in Peace, Sgt. Peralta; you've done well.
And as for you, Petty Officer Paredes, well, the less said, the better.
Reply 37 - Posted by: Ranger41, 12/17/2004 8:09:17 PM
To overlook a story like this in favor of one about a deserter suggests to me that the left takes insufficient pride in America and its heros and perhaps even hates the America we know and love.
Thanks Ollie, for telling us about this selfless immigrant to America. We hate to lose men like SGT Rafael Peralta who is such a tremendous credit to America and to his Mexican origin.
God rest his soul and bless his family and loved ones.
Reply 38 - Posted by: fishermanswife, 12/17/2004 8:26:59 PM
"Ollie mucks up the story of this genuine hero with this bit :
"You see, Pablo Paredes, a Navy petty officer 3rd class, did something the liberal elites consider "heroic" .... he defied an order "
I think this misses the point of the article.
Which young man got press coverage? As Ollie reports: "Sgt. Rafael Peralta .....With the exception of the Los Angeles Times, most of our mainstream media haven't bothered to write about him. .....Pablo Paredes. Hundreds of media outlets have written about him."
His point is that the media rewarded (honored) their "hero" with many, many stories. At the same time, the media had little or no respect for the real hero - the one I - and most people - would have liked to read about.
Reply 39 - Posted by: msd, 12/17/2004 8:46:48 PM
#6 - Is that sour grapes because the whole world knows that your war "hero" was such a loser, he could only imagine he earned his medals... Your inept attempts to dishonor true heroes solidifies the reasons behind your sweeping losses across this country -- We're taking our country back and that means honoring our soldiers, you dweeb!!
Reply 40 - Posted by: dblenicklebob, 12/17/2004 8:50:51 PM
Look , not to be a pest ( but to be a pest ) I took up Ollie on the google search :
Sgt. Rafael Peralta ranges from 4,570 to 3,570
Petty Officer Pablo Paredes 799 to 1,050
Honoring Peralta is a good thing but slanting the story to fit your agend is not . That's all .
Reply 41 - Posted by: Engraved-on-His-hands, 12/17/2004 9:28:14 PM
All gave some. Some gave all.
And, not to be a pest, but...
As of this writing, the Internet's most used search engine will provide you with only 26 citations from news sources that have bothered to write about this heroic young man.
Reply 42 - Posted by: Frank G, 12/17/2004 9:29:24 PM
Edward R Morrow & Ernie Pyle would be so ashamed
& mad of their profession today.
Reply 43 - Posted by: Urgent Fury, 12/17/2004 9:39:05 PM
This story makes me want to do two things:
1. cry a little
2. find that faggot squid and beat him with a baseball bat
Reply 44 - Posted by: Grandpa Woodie, 12/17/2004 9:47:26 PM
Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah.
Reply 45 - Posted by: usmcsarge, 12/17/2004 10:01:17 PM
Is the DOUBLEDIMEGUY actually implying that the elite media DO NOT disproportionately report counter culture/anti military/PC/multi culti/celebrate diversity/etc stories???? We want to know. If you disagree then you are obviously of the Dan Blather School ("The NYT is strictly non partisan - right down the middle. No specific viewpoint whatsoever...").
Old Marine Sarge
ps - And so what if North slipped in a cheap shot. Are you some shrinking Victorian princess? If I had the proverbial dollar for every time a MAJOR media figure "slipped in a cheap shot" (against a conservative, naturally), I'd be posting from my yacht on the Cote d'Azure.
Reply 46 - Posted by: nutiket, 12/17/2004 10:21:55 PM
#6, 31, 40--Afflicted with a bad case of PEST and an equally bad case of sarcasm (minus any wit).
Reply 47 - Posted by: The Chairman, 12/17/2004 10:44:46 PM
Sgt Peralta was a true hero and a true Marine, in the best tradition of both. Compare him to the piece of excrment that ran for President on the democrap ticket - that phony, lying, cowardly traitor - Hanoi John. Sgt. Peralta truly does deserve the Medal of Honor.
Reply 48 - Posted by: Dimpled Darling, 12/17/2004 11:01:01 PM
RE #29 - We in San Antonio have certainly heard of Roy Benavidez, one of our fellow citizens. He retired and was a model citizen. He visited schools and talked to the students of the importance of education and living right. He wore his MOH so the kids could see it. He was active in civic affairs and it was with sadness that we heard of his death about a year or so ago. Truly a remarkable man.
