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>> PEGGY: Joining me with the reaction to the department of defense's reaction is Sergeant
Peralta, thank you for talking with us tonight. Your brother, Raphael joined the marines the
day he got his green card. Tell us about him and why he wanted to join
the marines. >>> He wanted to joinÊ actually it was out
of high school, you know how you talk about military and stuff and he said "I want to
do it" and my mom actuallyÊ they hadÊ on the TV they had a preview of the Marines and
my mom said "oh I want you to be that, son" and he said "yeah" and he joined the day he
got his green card. >> PEGGY: Tell me about your family, you're
from Mexico and he decided he wanted to do this for America for the type of person he
is, what was behind that? >> Yes, my family is from Mexico and, I mean,
I guess that's what he wanted to do, I guess that's what his calling was and ever since
he wanted to he'sÊ he was in love with the Marines or the military.
>> PEGGY: Why is it important for your family to have your brother receive this medal of
honor which is the highest medal given my Congress?
>> For justice, I believe, because it's not only my family but other people as well that
support this that believe he deserves the medal of honor.
>> PEGGY: So it's about him deserving it? >> Exactly.
>> PEGGY: Okay, your family got a call from Panetta's office about two weeks ago saying
things were cleared on this and then what happened?
>> They denied it. I barely found out yesterday about this that
he was not going to receive it. My sister called my mom and I was in school
and my mom called me saying there was no medal of honor.
>> PEGGY: And you left school and your family is upset?
>> Exactly. >> PEGGY: He was awarded the Navy cross back
in 2008, which is the highest honor that you can get from the Navy but there have been
rumors about how your family accepted that. Clarify that for us.
>>> People say that we denied t we haven't, we just haven't had time as a family to pick
it up. We have not made that time.
>> PEGGY: So you're going to go as a family to D.C.?
>> Yes, we don't know when but we have not denied it.
>> PEGGY: I know you don't to want talk about specifics but when it comes to this, obviously
it's been a roller coaster, there have been details looking at this case.
What does it say to your family about it? Do you have ideas as to why this is not happening?
>> We actually don't know. There is a lot of contradiction going on,
people saying thatÊ I mean, he received the Navy cross because they're saying that he
did do it, and then over here the medal of honor they're saying because he wasn't able
to do it. There is a lot of mixture going on.
>> PEGGY: And just to clarify there is one story from the eyewitnesses, his platoon that
said he pulled this grenade toward him and saved their lives but the autopsy report doctors
are saying he wasn't able to because he had been shot.
>>> It's a reflex. >> PEGGY: Either way he did recollect his
fellow troops. >>> Exactly.
>> PEGGY: The Navy is name aing destroyer after your brother.
How else would you like to see him remembered? >> Obviously as a hero.
An outgoing guy that gave everything for other people.
He was helpful to others. >> PEGGY: What has that taught you?
You're 21, you're in school. What has this taught you?
Does this make you want to be something or do something or choose a particular career?
>> Makes me want to do better. My brother is a role model for me and I believe
every other person. It's taught me toÊ it's made me strong, very
strong and it's taught me to fight for what I want.
>> PEGGY: Something to live up to? >> Exactly.
>> PEGGY: Karen Peralta thank you for talking with us today.
>>> Thank you.