ACT OF HONOR (El honor de un sacrificio) on The History Channel.

In November 2004, the Iraqi city of Fallujah was caught in a downward spiral of sectarian violence. After four American military contractors were brutally killed by a mob, Coalition forces entered the city in an attempt to restore order. During the bitter battle that followed, dozens of American soldiers gave their lives, including Marine Sergeant Rafael Peralta, a 25-year-old Mexican immigrant. The new one-hour documentary ACT OF HONOR pays tribute to these soldiers’ sacrifices and those of their loved ones as it traces Peralta’s extraordinary journey from Tijuana, Mexico to San Diego to the streets of Iraq. The world premiere of ACT OF HONOR will be simulcast in English on The History Channel and in Spanish on The History Channel en espanol(R) on Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 7 pm ET.

On November 15, 2004, Sgt. Rafael Peralta died saving other members of his platoon while fighting to secure a key insurgent stronghold. Determined since high school to become a Marine, Peralta had enlisted as soon as he received his green card. He volunteered for service in Iraq, where his unit was assigned the deadly work of going house to house in enemy controlled territory to clear the city of fighters and weapons caches. Peralta and his companions were ambushed by guerillas who then lobbed a grenade at them in close quarters. Already seriously wounded, Peralta shielded his fellow Marines by covering the explosive device with his body, saving their lives and sacrificing his own.

Thousands of Americans were moved by Sergeant Peralta’s extraordinary bravery under fire when they first heard the story through news accounts. In ACT OF HONOR, the film reconstructs the life and death of Rafael Peralta through the words and pictures of his fellow Marines and family. Candid and emotional interviews, news accounts, and personal photographs and video footage help draw a poignant picture of the young recruit. A loving son and brother, a steadfast friend, a proud American, a Marine’s Marine and a natural leader, Rafael Peralta was an authentic American hero. Avoiding political commentary on the war itself, ACT OF HONOR documents Sgt. Peralta’s fierce devotion to duty, paying tribute to his patriotism and commitment without romanticizing the agonizing loss felt by those who loved him.

Peralta’s death left an unfathomable void in two close-knit families: that of his widowed mother and three siblings in San Diego and the adopted brotherhood of his Marine platoon. The video diary of fellow Marine Sgt. Timothy Buquoi captures a glimpse of the young Marine in the harrowing uncertainty of everyday life in Iraq, as the platoon comes under fire less than 12 hours after their arrival. Buquoi also records the raw and eloquent emotion of his shattered platoon mates on the day of Sgt. Peralta’s final heroic act. Speaking after their return to the States, the comrades-in-arms remember him as a sharp dresser and a great dancer who taught salsa steps to his barracks mates.

In intimate interviews, Rafael’s mother Rosa, sisters Icela and Karen, and brother Ricardo alternately grieve his death and celebrate his life, as they remember his resolve to serve his country and help his family achieve their American Dream. The two families come together in one of the film’s most touching sequences, a group of strangers now bound together by an awe- inspiring act of selflessness and loyalty. In a heartbreaking coda, a tearful Ricardo Peralta reads from an extraordinarily prescient letter written by his older brother just days before his death. After telling Ricardo that whatever happens, he must always be grateful to be an American citizen, Sgt. Peralta writes, “Be proud of me, bro. I’m going to make history.” Executive Producer of ACT OF HONOR is Marlene Braga. Viewers can go to the website History.com/espanol for the special ACT OF HONOR, to see more information, special footage and still images.