Great story. Nice to read a story about true heroism. Feel sorry for his family, but at least they can be proud.

You say that it is, "sad to see how many young lives are being cut off in this war." I agree, but there is nothing different about this war as such is inherent in any and all wars. War is indescribably horrible. There is no nice, clean, polite war. When the UN and Congress authorized war and the President first sent our brave troops, it was an absolute that many of our finest would be lost, that civilians would die, that horrible things would happen.

I also agree that it is, "a war that shouldn't have begun." Again, that is the nature of all wars. None of them should begin. Although, I think you and I would disagree on when it began. I say that Saddam should never have gassed his own citizens, the Kurds, with weapons of mass destruction. He never should have murdered, tortured and raped, tens if not hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. He never should have paid rewards to terrorist suicide bomber families. He never should have sought out the ability to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. He never should have prevented the inspectors from inspecting his weapon sites thus giving the world, including France, Germany, the rest of the EU, the Clinton administration, and Bush, the impression that he currently had weapons of mass destruction. He never should have violated seventeen UN mandates. Iraq never should have been a terrorist friendly nation.

These actions and more "started" the war. The U.S.'s reaction was simply a caring nation doing what it can to put a stop to it all instead of sitting around talking and passing more worthless resolutions while even more innocents died and to prevent potentially unimaginable numbers from dieing in the future.

Gives me the chills to read that such a thing happened. And while I do not want to get into politics I can only point one finger to whom this loss of so valuable a life can be attributed. God bless him and his family, for they know his good deed will not go unseen by the world.

This gave me chills

What state was Sgt. Peralta from. A group of us vets are writing state senators and congressmen about this.

Good day to all...

Sergeant Rafael Peralta was a very close friend of mine, I was stationed with him at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego for about 2 years. He is a Native Mexican from Tijuana, and later received his U. S. citizenship after becoming a United States Marine. A True "Marines, Marine" he was, even out of uniform. He will be greatly missed by many, especially myself... please pass his story on, and remember that it is for men like him that allow you to live your life in the LAND OF THE FREE. God Bless...

Sgt Rafael Peralta was a really close friend of ours .All three of us ( Sgt Peralta, Rafael, Cpl SaldivarLopez, Eduardo, and Sgt Saldivar, Brenda) were station together in Hawaii. He would spend his off time at our house and planned alot of stuff for when he came back from Iraq. He had our un born babys 1st birthday party all planned . He wanted the party to be held at his favorite mexican restaurant named Mexico Lindo. He was a very happy person , loved to dance and spend time with friends. We were so happy knowing we had a good person on our side. We organized his last birthday party with several other friends at our house . Also we had organized his good bye party the day he went on deployment. We know for a fact that Rafa is happy were ever he is at and of course he is surrounded by his love ones which include his dad and his girl-friend. May god bless our hero Sgt Peralta. He knows we loved him and will always miss his presence.

Wow. Amazing act of selflessness. Kinda puts our everyday drama into perspective.

My name is Eduardo Saldivarlopez, one of Rafa's close friends from MCBH. It feels as though rafa is still alive; we all still remember him as if he were here with us this very moment. it is still hard for me to accept the fact that a real friend has past away close to 5 months already, it is really hard to let go somebody this close, i still wait for rafa's old unit thinking rafa will show up and all this would be like a terrible nightmare, but then reality hits and that makes me really sad. I cant imagine what his family is still feeling for this loss. Know that my home is always open for the Peralta family and i offer my help in anything you might need; thank you so much for receiving us at your home sorry we had to meet each other for this sad reasons,but know that we are here for you. God bless you Rafa for everything u did for us, our prayers will always be with you and your family.

This is a wonderful story! Jeff Jacoby on Townhall.com highlighted this story today (Memorial Day), and when I searched for a link to a picture of this hero, I found your page. See my blog for the short piece, where I also linked to your page.

God bless our heros in uniform. No greater love has a man than to lay down his life for a friend. We thank you and we love you.

I wish I could have met this great man.
It is a man like Sgt. Peralta that makes me remember that my freedom is not free, but is earned through hard work and sacrifice by those like Sgt. Peralta.
A giver to others, a leader, A true American.

It is people like SGT Peralta that make freedom possible. I did not know the man, but after reading his story and seeing how his closest friends hold him up still, I feel a loss in my heart for not knowing him. It is a shame that his story will never make it to the mainstream media. All too many Americans have no comprehension of what freedom is. Thank you to him and all who serve for going into harms way. I can only hope to raise my sons to be half the men that SGT Peralta sounds to be.

Thank you.

Rafael Peralta was a very good friend of mine back when we were both stationed at MCRD San Diego. We met during GSF training at Camp Pendleton, something everybody felt was useless at the time. One morning myself and Cpl Stephen Lara, who mentions Rafael above, noticed him sitting by himself at a table in the chowhall crying. We went over to talk to him and he showed us the front page of the newspaper with a Marine on the cover, this Marine had facial wounds and the picture was taken in the Baghdad International Airport. Rafael told us that this was one of his Marines from his last unit, which just happened to be in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. He was upset because he was sitting at a table eating morning chow, and his own Marine's were in Iraq fighting for the freedom of Iraq's citizens, and he was not there to have their back. We went back to the barracks where Rafael proceeded to show us an annual from that same last unit and the battle group he was attached to at the time. For the rest of the day Rafael kept to himself, he was a quiet person, he cared about everybody, and especially, he cared about every Marine. He would do anything for anybody, he was also one of the only Marine's I knew who would voice that Jesus was his savior, was everybody's savior. When I read about what happened in 2005, I picked up the phone and called Stephen Lara, we did not know what had fully happened yet, but we both knew he was the type of person that would give his life for anybody. Rafael was a very well respected man, by everybody who knew him. Even though I have not seen him for over 2 years, everything about him is burned into my memory, all the way down to his stupid 0311 tatoo on his arm, which he loved to show off. The last time I was near Rafael was December 3, 2005, which was the day I left the Marine Corps to return to civilian life. Behind me was the view of downtown San Diego and the harbor, a view I know he would enjoy. I miss my friend, and I look forward to the day we will meet again in Heaven. Even though it has been nearly two years, my condolences go out to his family, and especially his mother. His character could only be a direct reflection of the way you raised him and the way you are yourself. You gave many people a wonderful friend. God bless.

I give my warm thoughts to Sgt. Rafael Peralta and to his people. I would that our borders had arms open in welcome and equlity to such.

Hola Rafa, se q estas bien yo aqui en casa con mi walito y los cuates, walo en Iraq . Pero gracias a Dios todos bien. Sabes ya son 3 anos q me hablo Rodrigues para desirme q avias muerto . No lo crei y tuve q checar y si con noticia q si era sierto. Lo primero q ise fui a hablar con walo y fue la peor noticia. Combramos los boletos y nos fuimos a la casa de tu familia. Ayi platicamos con tu familia y luego nos fuimos a tu velorio. Ayi estuvimos y te vimos y platicamos con tigo ayi estaba mijo mi Walito (el scrappy) . Tu dejastes muchos recuerdos bonitos en nuestra familia. Siempre recordamos lo q pasamos contigo, Torrez, Rodriguez, Sanchez, Chavo, y Guyzik. Esos tiempos cuanto quiesieramos q nunca ubieran pasado. Pero esa es la vida. Nunca va hacer lo mismo sin ti. Nunca olvides q siempre vas a tener unos amigos en nosotros. Siempre te recordaremos y tenremos en nuestros recuerdos. En tu memoria sabes el cuates se llama Rafael ya q walito avia nacido pero el Rafita se llama arturo rafael . Bueno pues espero q algun dia estaremos todos juntos como en Hawaii. Uno muy pocas veces conose buenos amigos pero tamien muy pocos se van . Tu nos dejastes muy pronto pero sabes pienso q tuvimos una amistad muy corta pero sincera y una amistad muy padre gracias a mi esposo te conoci y supe q significa una amistad. Hasta ahorrita te puedo decir q los unicos amigos q yo tengo son los amigos q conoci por Walo q son ustedes. Torrez, Sanchez, Eddie , Chavo y el Guyzik. Y bueno tambien los q yo conoci en mi trabajo. Pero ustedes son como parte de nuestra familia. Te extranamos muchisimo y siempre te recordamos. Recibe muchos saludos de todos aca recuerdo el ultimo cumple anos q pasamos en mi casa. Cuidate y cuidanos tambien a nosotros a mi Amor q esta ahorra en Iraq. Ahorra yo le pregunto a Dios porq se lleva las buenas personas . TE EXTRANAMOS MUCHO Rafa.

Brenda. Walo , Walito, Brendita Adamary, Y Arturo Rafael Saldivar

Happy Birthday Rafael , another year has passed by and you are still in our hearts and mind. You will never be forgotten. Your story will always be told by us to our family members. We will never forget all those fun times we had in Hawaii. God may take the good people but one day we will al be together. God bless your family always. Happy Birthday Marine.

Miss you,

The Saldivar Family