The City Council yesterday approved a resolution asking President Obama to reconsider a Pentagon decision not to award a Hawai'i Marine the Medal of Honor for his actions in Iraq in 2004.

Sgt. Rafael Peralta, who was with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment out of Kane'ohe Bay, died during intense house-to-house fighting in Fallujah on Nov. 14, 2004.

At least four Marines with the 25-year-old Peralta at the time stated in written reports that they saw the short and stocky Mexican-American nicknamed "Rafa" pull a grenade to his body after it had bounced into a room.

"After my office spoke with representatives of the Peralta family and fellow Kane'ohe Marines who served with Sgt. Peralta in Iraq, I am convinced Sgt. Peralta's case deserves a careful re-examination, and I hope the new Obama administration gives this matter a second look," Councilman Charles Djou said.

A friendly-fire gunshot and the grenade blast combined to kill Peralta.

The Medal of Honor recommendation passed examination by the Marine Corps, U.S. Central Command and Department of the Navy before being rejected by five individuals appointed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Gates said an internal review could not reconcile "contradictory evidence" that was never specified.

The decision was made to instead award Peralta the Navy Cross, the service's second-highest award for valor.