Happy Birthday Sgt. Paul Smith.
I first posted about Sgt Paul Smith back in March of 2005. If you don’t know about Paul, you should.
He was the first Medal of Honor medal winner since the War on Terror began in 2001. He was a true leader and lead by example. This presentation goes over the sequence of events.
Here is his citation:
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.
I bet many of you didn’t know about Paul did you? It’s no wonder since our MSM will cover every little negative thing going on in Iraq while ignoring stories that should be highlighted everyday. A story where one man, one leader, saved 100 of his own men and paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Guys like Paul, Dietz, Axelson, Peralta, Kasal, get little to no mention while a guy who straps a bomb to his chest gets tons.
They didn’t ask to be heroes, and that is why they became one. Those who stormed the cockpit of Flight 93 didn’t ask for it, but when push came to shove they couldn’t just sit there and let the hijackers kill them along with those at the intended target. Neither did Paul. Knowing that his troops would be wiped out by a superior force he made the decision to be out in the open with a .50 cal.
These kind of guys need to be remembered.
The presentation by President Bush, at the Pentagon and at Arlington can be viewed here.
See author page
I’ve known the story of Paul Smith since way back (when he was being nominated).
SFC Paul Smith was a true leader and even more, a true Hero.
God Bless all the Paul Smith’s. Hooah!
There’s a reason that the MSM doesn’t report stories about people like Paul Smith, Brian Chontosh and Brad Kasal. Because they don’t want the rest of America to know that we’re winning, because they want us to lose.
Semper Fidelis, Paul, we haven’t forgotten.