FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of the Heroes: SFC Paul Smith ~ 12 May 2008

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[StarCMC]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

SFC Paul Smith
All info and photos from this website.

           

Paul Ray Smith was born on September 24, 1969, in El Paso, Texas. At the age of nine, his family moved to South Tampa, Florida, where he attended public schools. He enjoyed sports, liked cats, skateboarding, riding bicycles, and playing pranks with friends and his younger sister Lisa. He particularly enjoyed football, which instilled the importance of being part of a team and motivated his natural leadership abilities.

Sgt. 1st Class Smith joined the 11th Engineer Battalion in 1999 and immediately became an integral part of Bravo Company. When he deployed with his platoon to Kosovo in May 2001, as part of the KFOR 3A rotation, Smith was responsible for daily presence patrols in the highly populated town of Gnjilane. In the spring of 2002, he was promoted to sergeant first class and completed the Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course in August 2002.

In January 2003, Sgt. 1st Class Smith returned from leave to prepare his men for rapid deployment to Kuwait as part of the 3rd Infantry's Divisions buildup for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Smith took a strict approach to training his men, ensuring that his platoon was proficient in handling weapons and prepared for urban combat.

Bravo Company crossed the border on March 19th and traveled more than 300 kilometers in the first 48 hours of the war as part of the lead company in support of Task Force 2-7 Infantry. Passing through the Karbala Gap, Smith and his men pushed through the night of of April 3, 2003, towards Baghdad Airport where Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion of Task Force 2-7 were involved in a firefight with Iraqi forces. Sgt. 1st Class Smith's heroic actions and tragic death are described in more detail in the battlescape section of this website and in his Medal of Honor Citation.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to

 

Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith
United States Army

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith’s extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Third Infantry Division “Rock of the Marne,” and the United States Army. 

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Hip and kneee, Sis..
I’m a hurtin’ unit tonite.

[MeekMom]

Yeah! That’s what I want to do!
Every now and then I go see my Chiropractor, but the person who does the most good for me is the Massage Therapist who also works in his office.
I’ve only seen her twice as I had discount coupons. But now she charges $60/hour. Pretty pricy for me, but one of these days I’ll get back there! :)

[TASMANIANRED]

Did you manage to get some sleep?

You don’t always feel stress catching up with you...but when it chatches up..it can be pretty rude.

DVD player sounds like a great idea...

I bought my MIl some roses to go with the hubby’s gift..They went out to dinner today.

Day started out slow and then had a couple of hours of pedal to the metal....Getting a bit better now...Sheesh.

[TASMANIANRED]

It figures....Hitting the IB tonight?

[Randy Larsen]

You tried too hard to keep up!

Those forced marches will do that to you.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL!
Apparently!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Yup!
Sitting in the jets for long periods did me in.
You wouldn’t think just sitting could do that to ya!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Amen!
;0)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good grief! How much trouble can Mothers get into? Don’t answer that. d:o)

I’m a bit short on sleep, but I’m working on it.

Glad things are slowing down some for you.

[Randy Larsen]

Under the circumstances, you did extremely well!

It just didn’t have to be that way...

Maybe someday we will be able to take our time and still see the sights without crippling anyone, or leaving others with hurt feelings.

[luvie]

I have heard that massage therapy is very helpful, but like you I can’t really afford what they charge. I have been to two chiropractors and neither of them did any good. I was disappointed.

I figure I’ll just work it out in due time.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Aw..
Thanks, Ma!
You’re the best!

[TASMANIANRED]

Gotta train for mountain climbing.

[TASMANIANRED]

I can guarantee that sitting will do it...It’s why I need a peach crate from time to time.....Like tonight.

[TASMANIANRED]

The 2 year olds were on a holy rampage for a while...6 lines ringing and only 3 people to pick them up...

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Has it calmed down any there?
Can you get up and stretch once in awhile?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Yikes! Ya gots to watch those youngins. They get in to everything!

[TASMANIANRED]

I’m gonna try to get up as soon as I post this and make a run for the kitchen and ladies.

[TASMANIANRED]

Any shift where I only get 2 cups of coffee is a busy one..