Warship Named For Fallen Mexican-Born Marine

In 2004, Sgt. Rafael Peralta sacrificed himself in Iraq to protect his fellow Marines from a grenade.  Today, a naval destroyer bearing his name was christened by his mother at the Bath Iron Works in Maine.  Although other naval ships have been named after Americans of Mexican descent, the USS Rafael Peralta is thought to be the first one named after someone born in Mexico.  From Fox News:

The mother of Sgt. Rafael Peralta asked God to bless the ship named for her son and keep the crew safe before smashing a bottle of Champagne on the ship's bow Saturday.

The ceremony to christen the future USS Rafael Peralta paid homage to the slain Marine, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service of a country to which he emigrated as a boy.

Peralta, who pulled a grenade against his body to protect his fellow Marines during close combat with insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, on Nov. 15, 2004, is believed to be the first serviceman born in Mexico to have a naval warship named in his honor.

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