Paul Ray Smith
33 years old from Tampa, Florida
Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
April 4, 2003
When you think of the word Hero, SFC. Paul Smith is the person you think about.
On April 4, 2003, Smith was setting up a temporary enemy prisoner of war holding
area during the seizure of Saddam International Airport when his unit came under
attack.
Smith kept his soldiers focused during the fight while engaging the Iraqi force
of around 100 men with his M16, a hand grenade and an AT4 anti-armor weapon.
Smith tossed a grenade over a wall then he climbed atop the armored vehicle. Disregarding
personal danger, he sprayed the attacking troops with .50-caliber machine gun fire.
According to the Army, he told a soldier who accompanied him to "feed me ammunition
whenever you hear the gun get quiet." He fired more than 300 rounds at the
enemy before being mortally wounded himself.
For his action on that day, SFC. Smith was posthumously awarded the Medal Of Honor
by President Bush,
alt="">becoming only the 3,459 serviceman to be awarded the honor since the Civil War.
His "conspicuous gallantry, above and beyond the call of duty," according
to his citation, protected the soldiers in his platoon as well as other troops at
an aid station nearby.
These brave men and women have given their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms
we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic
Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't
Know Where To Look
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to
participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you
can find out how by clicking here.
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