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TAPS
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night. |

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BORN:
24 September 1969 at El Paso, Texas
Entered Service in the US
Army from Tampa, FL
Earned
The Medal of Honor During the War on Terror For heroism on
April 4, 2003 at Baghdad, Iraq
DIED: April
4, 2003
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Sergeant First
Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war
holding area when his Task Force was 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.
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