ˌɔn noʊvˈɛmbɚ fˈɪftiːn, tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ, ðə twˈɛnti fˈaɪvjˈɪɹˈoʊld pəɹˈæltə dᵻplˈɔɪd tʊ ɪɹˈæk æz ɐ sˈɑːɹdʒənt ænd skˈaʊt tˈiːm lˈiːdɚɹ ɐsˈaɪnd tə kˈʌmpəni ˈeɪ, fˈɜːst bɐtˈæliən, θˈɜːd mɚɹˈiːn ɹˈɛdʒɪmənt tə klˈɪɹ hˈaʊzᵻz ɪnðə sˈɛkənd bˈæɾəl ʌv fˈɔːluːdʒə.
On November 15, 2004, the 25-year-old Peralta deployed to Iraq as a sergeant and scout team leader assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment to clear houses in the Second Battle of Fallujah.