Bush petitioned on denied medal
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Six U.S. representatives from Southern California and both U.S. senators from the state petitioned President Bush on Friday to reevaluate the Pentagon’s decision not to award the Medal of Honor to Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta, who was killed in the battle for Fallouja, Iraq, in 2004.
Led by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine), the elected officials wrote to Bush to “express our extreme disappointment” at the Pentagon’s decision this week to posthumously award Peralta the Navy Cross.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates turned down the nomination amid conflicting medical evidence about whether Peralta died from a friendly fire gunshot when the grenade was thrown by insurgents.
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