sˈɛkɹətɹi ʌv dᵻfˈɛns ɹˈɑːbɚt ɡˈeɪts ɹᵻdʒˈɛktᵻd ðə mɚɹˈiːn kˈɔːɹ ɹˌɛkəmɛndˈeɪʃən, sˈeɪɪŋ ðæt hɪz pˈænəl juːnˈænɪməsli kənfˈɜːmd ðæt pəɹˈæltəz ˈækʃənz dɪdnˌɑːt mˈiːt ðə mˈɛdəl ʌv ˈɑːnɚ stˈændɚd "wɪðˌaʊt ˌɛni pˌɑːsəbˈɪlᵻɾi ʌv ˈɛɹɚ ɔːɹ dˈaʊt".
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates rejected the Marine Corps recommendation, saying that his panel unanimously confirmed that Peralta's actions did not meet the Medal of Honor standard "without any possibility of error or doubt".