The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*Smith, Paul Ray
Rank and organization:
Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3d
Infantry Division. Place
and Date: Baghdad, Iraq, 4 April 2003.
Entered Service at: Tampa, Florida.
Born: 24 September 1969, El Paso, Texas
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.
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