Paul Ray Smith (September 24, 1969–April 4, 2003)
was a United States Army Sergeant First Class who was
posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Operation
Iraqi Freedom while serving with B Company, 11th Engineer
Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division in Baghdad, Iraq. He was also
the first recipient of the Medal of Honor Flag.
Medal of Honor citation
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 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 60 mm 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. |
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