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MEDAL OF HONOR:
Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith
Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith

MEDAL OF HONOR

War on Terrorism

"Like every one of the men and women in uniform who have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sergeant Paul Smith was a volunteer. We thank his family for the father, husband and son and brother who can never be replaced. We recall with appreciation the fellow soldiers whose lives he saved, and the many more he inspired. And we express our gratitude for a new generation of Americans, every bit as selfless and dedicated to liberty as any that has gone on before — A dedication exemplified by the sacrifice and valor of Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith."

President George W. Bush
White House Ceremony, April 4, 2005

Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith

Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith

enlisted

October 1989, Completed Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO

hometown

South Tampa, Florida

Unit

B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division

Deployments

Persian Gulf War, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Operation Iraqi Freedom

Biography

The personal character of Sgt. 1st Class Smith is best described through anecdotes his sister related in a speech about her brother: “Paul Ray had an incredible love for the troops under his command. One Christmas, the wife of a Soldier in Paul Ray's platoon had just had surgery and the Soldier and his wife were unable to provide a Christmas for their family. So, Smith collected food from the company Christmas party, and he and Birgit bought presents for the children, and they took them to the Soldier's home.”

Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith entered the military in 1989 upon graduating high school. Smith with mom (left) circa 1989.

Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith entered the military in 1989 upon graduating high school. Smith with mom (left) circa 1989."

Paul R. Smith and spouse Brigit met in Germany, married in 1992 and had two children.

Smith's family never heard of this until recounted to them by friends after his death. Another story that illustrated Smith's concern for his men invoved a Soldier whose baby daughter was unexpectedly admitted to the hospital with a serious illness. Smith would drive an hour out of town every night to give his support to this Soldier and his wife. In the last letter that Smith wrote to his parents from Iraq, he told them that now that he was a father himself, he realized just how much they had sacrificed to make his life a good life and he thanked them for that special effort. He spoke of being prepared to give — as he said — "all that I am, to ensure that all my boys make it home." In that same letter he expresseed how proud he was of the "privilege to be given 25 of the finest Americans we call Soldiers to lead into war" and that he recognized their fears and his responsibilities for their welfare.

"...prepared to give all that I am, to ensure that all my boys make it home."

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.

He developed an interest in carpentry while in high school and was employed part-time as a carpenter assistant. Smith had an interest in old cars — he enjoyed taking things apart to see how they worked. He restored a dune buggy with a friend. He liked to collect things from the sea such as rocks and marbles. His family remembered that as far back as they could recall, when anyone would ask what he wanted to do as an adult, he always said, "I want to be a Soldier, get married, and have kids."

Sapper Tab

The Sapper tab is awarded to and worn by graduates (such as Sgt. 1st Class Smith) of the Sapper Leader Course. Sappers are combat engineers who advance with the front-line infantry, specially-trained to combine leadership, combat engineer and infantry skills to build and/or breach fortifications, execute mining and de-mining operations, and often be the first to face the enemy.

Learn more about U.S. Army Sappers

Upon graduating from Tampa Bay Vocational Technical High School in 1988, he joined the Army and attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. As his mother wrote in his biography for a dedication ceremony in Orlando, he had begun living his dream. He was assigned to Germany, met and married his wife, Birgit, had two children, and was "doing what he was born to do ... Lead American Soldiers ..." Sgt. 1st Class Smith served as a combat engineer and was deployed to Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and finally to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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 Division's 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.

Throughout his career, Smith was honored with many awards and decorations, including: the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal (with four oak leaf clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (with five oak leaf clusters), the Good Conduct Medal (third award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the South West Asia Service Medal (with three bronze stars), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon (second award), the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (third award), the NATO Medal (Kosovo), the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, the German Marksmanship Badge and the French Armed Forces Commando Badge.

In 1999 Smith was posted to the 11th Engineer Battalion, with which he was deployed to Kosovo in May 2001, where he was responsible for daily presence patrols in the town of Gnjilane. In the spring of 2002, he received a promotion to sergeant first class and completed the Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course in August 2002.

Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division under the command and control of U.S. Army Europe's V Corps take up firing positions during an enemy approach on their position at objective RAMA, in southern Iraq, March 24, 2003. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Igor Paustovski)

Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division under the command and control of U.S. Army Europe's V Corps take up firing positions during an enemy approach on their position at objective RAMA, in southern Iraq, March 24, 2003. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Igor Paustovski)

The Battle

April 4, 2003 | Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq

The 3d Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia. The three white stripes symbolize the three major operations in World War I in which the division participated. The blue field symbolizes the loyalty of those who have sacrificed themselves in defense of liberty and democracy.

The 3d Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia. The three white stripes symbolize the three major operations in World War I in which the division participated. The blue field symbolizes the loyalty of those who have sacrificed themselves in defense of liberty and democracy.

The 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized)

See additional units and histories

On April 4, 2003, the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, attacked to seize Objective Lions, the Baghdad International Airport. As part of the brigade scheme of maneuver, Task Force 2-7 Infantry was tasked to establish a blocking position against a brigade-sized counterattack on the main entrance to the airfield. Task Force 2-7 had been fighting for three consecutive days and had moved through the night before reaching the blocking position. Morale was high, but Soldiers were experiencing fatigue. B Company, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment (Knight) was in the east-most position oriented along the main avenue of approach ready for the main enemy counterattack. A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment (Rage) was attacking to the southeast of the Highway.

The main entrance to the airfield was a four-lane highway with a median to separate incoming and outgoing traffic. Large masonry walls with towers approximately 100 meters apart bound the highway. On the morning of April 4, 2003, more than 100 soldiers from the Task Force 2-7 Forward Aid Station, mortars, scouts and portions of B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion were in the median behind the forward most blocking positions. The B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion 2nd platoon leader was on a reconnaissance mission with the B Company, Task Force 2-7 Infantry Commander. During his absence, 2nd Platoon received the mission to construct an enemy prisoner of war holding area. Sgt. 1st Class Smith was in charge of 2nd Platoon.

Highway 8 towards Baghdad

Bravo Company's view of Highway 8 leading East into Baghdad. The berms were created by combat engineers to impede an enemy attack. Click here to view a larger picture.

Sgt. 1st Class Smith assessed the best location to be behind the masonry wall bounding the highway. Two guard towers along the wall were ideally situated to provide overwatch to the holding area. An M9 armored combat earthmover knocked a hole in the wall to create an opening to a large courtyard with a louvered metal gate on the north side. With the help of a squad leader and team leader, Sgt. 1st Class Smith checked the far side of the courtyard for enemy combatants, found none, and posted two guards. From the guard post at the gate small groupings of buildings were 100-200 meters to the northeast. To the northwest, a large white building with a white dome was visible. The location seemed perfect as the courtyard was along the northern flank of the blocking position and enemy actions to this point were mostly from the east.

Smith's B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division in 2005. U.S. Army photo.

Smith's B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division in 2005. U.S. Army photo.



While an engineer squad began to clear debris in the courtyard, one of the guards saw 10-15 enemy soldiers with small arms, 60mm mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. These were the lead elements of an organized company-sized force making a deliberate attack on the flank of Task Force 2-7. Sgt. 1st Class Smith came to the position and identified 25-50 more enemy soldiers moving into prepared fighting positions. Sgt. 1st Class Smith instructed a squad leader to get a nearby Bradley Fighting Vehicle for support. While waiting for the Bradley, Sgt. 1st Class Smith had members of 2nd platoon retrieve AT-4 weapons and form a skirmish line outside the gate. By this time, the number of enemy identified rose to 100 soldiers, now a confirmed company-sized attack. Three of B Company's M113A3 armored personnel carriers oriented .50-cal. machineguns toward the opening in the wall and the surrounding guard towers, now occupied by enemy soldiers.

Sgt. 1st Class Smith's actions to organize a defense against the deliberate attack were not only effective, but inspired the B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion Soldiers. He then began to lead by example. As the Bradley arrived on site and moved through the hole in the wall toward the gate, Sgt. 1st Class Smith ran to the gate wall and threw a fragmentation grenade at the enemy. He then took two Soldiers forward to join the guards and directed their engagement of the enemy with small arms. The enemy continued to fire rifles, RPGs and 60mm mortars at the Soldiers on the street and within the courtyard. Enemy soldiers began moving along the buildings on the north side of the clearing to get into position to climb into the towers. Sgt. 1st Class Smith called for an APC to move forward to provide additional fire support. Sgt. 1st Class Smith then fired an AT-4 at the enemy while directing his fire team assembled near the front line of the engagement area.

Sgt. 1st Class Smith's view from his position in the courtyard. Iraqi troops were firing from the tower on the left, and climbing over the wall in front.

Running low on ammunition and having taken RPG hits, the Bradley withdrew to reload. The lead APC in the area received a direct hit from a mortar, wounding the three occupants. The enemy attack was at its strongest point and every action counted. Not only were the wounded Soldiers threatened but also more than 100 Soldiers from B Company, the task force aid station and the mortar platoon were at risk.

Sgt. 1st Class Smith ordered one of his Soldiers to back the damaged APC back into the courtyard after the wounded men had been evacuated. Knowing the APC's .50-cal. machinegun was the largest weapon between the enemy and the friendly position, Sgt. 1st Class Smith immediately assumed the track commander's position behind the weapon, and told a Soldier who accompanied him to "feed me ammunition whenever you hear the gun get quiet." Sgt. 1st Class Smith fired on the advancing enemy from the unprotected position atop the APC and expended at least three boxes of ammunition before being mortally wounded by enemy fire. The enemy attack was defeated. Sgt. 1st Class Smith's actions saved the lives of at least 100 Soldiers, caused the failure of a deliberate enemy attack hours after 1st Brigade seized the Baghdad Airport and resulted in an estimated 20-50 enemy soldiers killed. His actions inspired his platoon, his Company, the 11th Engineer Battalion and Task Force 2-7 Infantry.

Sgt. 1st Class Smith's actions to lead Soldiers in direct contact with a numerically superior enemy — to personally engage the enemy with a fragmentation grenade, AT-4 and individual weapon, to ultimately assume the track commander's position to fire the .50-cal. machinegun through at least three boxes of ammunition before being mortally wounded — demonstrates conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. His actions prevented a penetration in the Task Force 2-7 sector, defended the aid station, mortars and scouts, and allowed the evacuation of Soldiers wounded by indirect enemy fire.

“ The way he motivated his Soldiers, they didn't necessarily like him, he wasn't their friend, but he made them train to standard. It all makes sense now, why he pushed us, why we did the things we did. Now we are here because of that. "He said, 'war is hell,' and [Sgt. Paul Ray Smith] showed me that first hand. He laid it all on the line and that was not a fluke ... he was concerned for the safety of his men and others and he put that above his own personal safety, and I think you've got to say he's a hero for that. ”

Capt. Christopher Doerr,
Headquarters and Headquarters Operations Company, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division
Served with Sgt. Smith in Operation Iraqi Freedom

The Ceremony


In 2005, two years after the battle at Bagdad Airport, the Congressional Medal of Honor, along with the newly approved Medal of Honor flag, were presented to Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith's family; specifically to his eleven-year-old son David, at a White House ceremony by President George W. Bush.



David Smith, 11-year-old son of Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith, holds his fathers Medal of Honor, awarded Monday, April 4, 2005, posthumously by President Bush during ceremonies at the White House. Looking on are Smiths wife, Birgit, and step-daughter Jessica. Photo by Paul Morse.

Show Caption +

David Smith, 11-year-old son of Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith, holds his father's Medal of Honor, awarded Monday, April 4, 2005, posthumously by President Bush during ceremonies at the White House. Looking on are Smith's wife, Birgit, and step-daughter Jessica. Courtesy George Bush Whitehouse Archives. Photo by Paul Morse.

The Medal of Honor for Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith. Awarded posthumously Monday, April 4, 2005, during ceremonies at the White House. Photo by Paul Morse.

Show Caption +

The Medal of Honor for Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith. Awarded posthumously Monday, April 4, 2005, during ceremonies at the White House. Courtesy George Bush Whitehouse Archives. Photo by Paul Morse.

Young David Smith holds his father's Medal of Honor — presented by President Bush — as he looks to his mother, Birgit Smith, during ceremonies Monday, April 4, 2005, at the White House. Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith, was mortally wounded while saving other members of his task force during Operation Iraqi Freedom.Courtesy George Bush Whitehouse Archives. Photo by Paul Morse.

Show Caption +

Young David Smith holds his father's Medal of Honor — presented by President Bush — as he looks to his mother, Birgit Smith, during ceremonies Monday, April 4, 2005, at the White House. Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith, was mortally wounded while saving other members of his task force during Operation Iraqi Freedom.Courtesy George Bush Whitehouse Archives. Photo by Paul Morse.

President George W. Bush presents the Medal of Honor to David Smith, 11, April 4, 2005, at the White House. The militarys highest award was given to Smiths father Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga., posthumously for his actions in the battle for Baghdad Airport. Photo courtesy of DVIDS.

Show Caption +

President George W. Bush presents the Medal of Honor to David Smith, 11, April 4, 2005, at the White House. The military's highest award was given to Smith's father Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga., posthumously for his actions in the battle for Baghdad Airport. Photo courtesy of DVIDS.

President George W. Bush places his hand on the shoulder of 11-year-old David Smith after he presented the young man with the Medal of Honor, awarded his father, Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith, posthumously during the ceremony at the White House April 2005. Joining David on stage are his step-sister Jessica and his mother, Birgit Smith. Photo by Eric Draper.

Show Caption +

President George W. Bush places his hand on the shoulder of 11-year-old David Smith after he presented the young man with the Medal of Honor, awarded his father, Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith, posthumously during the ceremony at the White House April 2005. Joining David on stage are his step-sister Jessica and his mother, Birgit Smith. Photo by Eric Draper.

“ A man has no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. And that is exactly the responsibility Paul Smith believed the Sergeant stripes on his sleeve had given him...Today, we bestow upon Sergeant Smith the first Medal of Honor in the war on terror. He's also the first to be awarded this new Medal of Honor flag, authorized by the United States Congress. We count ourselves blessed to have soldiers like Sergeant Smith, who put their lives on the line to advance the cause of freedom and protect the American people. ”

President George W. Bush

White House Ceremony, April 4, 2005


Articles & Resources

  • Congressional Medal of Honor Society - Paul R. Smith Medal of Honor Recipients are a part of something greater. See their stories of sacrifice. Honor their sacrifice today so we may shape a better future tomorrow.
  • No Greater Honor, The Atlantic (June 2, 2008 Only eight Medals of Honor have been awarded since the Vietnam War, all posthumously. “You don’t have to die to win it, but it helps,” says Army Colonel Thomas P. Smith. A West Point graduate from the Bronx, Smith has a unique perspective. He was a battalion commander in Iraq when one of his men performed actions that resulted in the Medal of Honor.
  • Iraq War sergeant saved 100 men during surprise battle. Smith, of Tampa, Florida, joined the Army right out of high school in 1989. Over the course of his 13-year career, the combat engineer served on many fronts, including Desert Storm, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and in Operation Iraqi Freedom…
  • Last Full Measure of Devotion | The Sergeant Paul Smith Story This WEDU PBS local documentary pays tribute to a Tampa native, a decorated soldier who went off to fight for Iraqi freedom. During a fierce battle near the Baghdad airport, Sergeant First Class Paul Smith was mortally wounded defending his Army unit. Two years later, Paul Smith was honored with the Congressional Medal of Honor. Learn the story of an everyday man with uncommon valor.
  • Whitehouse Archives - President Presents Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith Archival photos of Medal of Honor ceremony in George Bush Presidential archives gallery
  • NBC News - Bush awards Medal of Honor for Iraq duty Outnumbered and exposed, Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith stayed at his gun, beating back an advancing Iraqi force until a bullet took his life. Smith is credited with protecting the lives of scores of lightly armed American soldiers who were beyond his position in the battle, on April 4, 2003, near the gates of Baghdad International Airport.
  • Soldiers in Iraq Remember Smith's Bravery Under Fire He was a husband, father, Soldier and leader, but on April 4, Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, the 3rd Infantry Division's 51st Medal of Honor recipient, was remembered simply as a hero…
  • Florida School Dedicated In Honor of SFC Paul R. Smith Medal of Honor winners don't do it for the medal - they do it for the mission," said Brig. Gen. Mark S. Bowman, director of command, control, communications, and computer systems, headquarters U.S. Central Command, at the dedication of the new Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith Middle School, in Tampa, Fla.
  • Selfless final act saved his troops Tampa Bay Times Archives - Leary, Alex.
  • Iraq hero joins hallowed group Tampa Bay Times Archives - Leary, Alex.
  • OIF: The Drive to Baghdad. A documentary film containing historical footage and photographs, virtual terrain, animated maps, and one-on-one interviews with Veterans of the Operation Iraqi Freedom
  • U.S. Army Sappers - Army.mil A sapper — also known as an elite combat engineer — is a combatant skilled in a variety of military engineering duties such as minefield placement or clearing, bridge-building, demolitions, field defenses, and road and airfield construction. Sappers are responsible for tasks facilitating movement of allied forces and impeding those of their enemies.

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