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

linked in thread | Racer X

[StarCMC]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ 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]

Hi Randy!
*HUG*
Sounds like you had a wonderful time!

[Randy Larsen]

We sure did!

What a great friend she is!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

It went beautifully, thank you!
It’s a trip I will remember always!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

She is a lovely and gracious lady!
I wish I could have visited with her longer!

[Randy Larsen]

Yeah, she sure knows how to make me laugh!

My cheeks are sore and so are my sides!

I wish I could stay longer, but tomorrow we head for The Hoover Dam and then Las Vegas!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mac, for the Missing Man Setting as we remember those who have given their all that we may gather safe and secure.

[Brad’s Gramma]

.....interrupting the Canteen for a moment....

If you’ve not seen JustAmy’s post, please go read it and pray your hearts out for Jim, please?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2009800/posts?page=552#552

.........returning to the Canteen.......

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Wow!
That sounds like a blast!
Be careful driving, okay?
*HUG*
It was GREAT to meet you and your lovely wife!
Please give her a hug for me?
Thanks for helping to make this trip so wonderful for me, and us all!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

50?

[MS.BEHAVIN]

50?

[blackie]

Our Heroes can’t be honored too often!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And Sand is in for the gold!

[TASMANIANRED]

I’m gonna say Hi and Hug.

Wicked busy in here tonight..

I wanna visit but don’t know if I’ll be able to..

[Kathy in Alaska]

And Hawaii snags the silver!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And then comes roaddog727 bagging the bronze!

[StarCMC]

Hi and hug backatcha, Taz!

[TASMANIANRED]

Isn’t Spotsylvania where the musket fire was so thick it cut down trees?

[StarCMC]

Okie doke peeps! I’m out for a while! Hope to see ya tomorrow! *HUGS* all around ~ and thank you Troops, for everything you do for us!

[TASMANIANRED]

I didn’t get too far behind after all.

[50mm]

Kathy,

There is an update on JimRob here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2009800/posts?page=552#552