My Moment of Remembrance; SFC Paul Ray Smith

In this memorial day service, I take a moment to reflect upon the life of Seregeant First Class Paul Ray Smith. SFC Smith was the first medal of honor recipient of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thomas A. Torrence and Samantha A. Torrence - I do not believe Memorial Day is just to remember the deaths of our great heroes, but to remember their lives, and who they were. What made these great men, who gave their all in sacrifice and blood, so willing to lay down their lives that freedom will live? As said in Leo Tolstoy's famed book, 'War and Peace', "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"; or as Sir Edmund Burke (Whig), of the British House of Commons said during the American War for Independence, "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith SFC Paul Ray Smith was born September 24, 1969, in El Paso, Texas. He moved to Tampa, Florida at the age of nine, where he lived until he graduated from Tampa Bay Vocational Technical High School, Class of '88. Like the NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer)he would become, he enjoyed working with his hands and was interested in carpentry and cars. He enjoyed physical activity, like most enlisted, sports, skateboarding, and riding bicycles. Football in particular was a specific favorite because he believed it instilled the importance of being part of a team and motivated his own natural leadership abilities. He also very much had a human side, with a love of cats and playing pranks with his friends and younger sister Lisa. But throughout his life there was one constant, his plans for the future, "I want to be a Soldier, get married, and have kids." He graduated in 1988 and by 1989 was enlisted in the Army. Smith graduated Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. During his career he served in the Persian Gulf war in Kuwait, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Operation Iraqi Freedom as a combat engineer. He fulfilled one of his dreams, being a soldier, but he also fulfilled the rest of his plans. Paul Ray Smith was married to the wonderful Bridget smith and had two children, David and Jessica. On April 4 2003, Paul Ray Smith became a hero by saving over 100 American service members, 25 of them under his direct command and he promised they would make it home alive. It took 48 hours for the 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division to cross the border of Kuwait, and cross the Euphrates river to an objective outside of Baghdad. April 3, 2003 SFC Smith ordered his platoon driver to get some sleep and himself spent a sleepless night ground guiding his men to their objective, OBJ LIONS : Baghdad International Airport. SFC Smith and his men were ordered to "establish a blocking position along the major thoroughfare" between the airport and Baghdad. Smith and company were ordered to create a holding area for Enemy Prisoners of War which is set up in a courtyard completely surrounded by walls and one metal gate with a tower overlooking. One wall is punctured to create an opening. While setting up the EPW, 10-15 enemy combatants are spotted armed with small arms, mortars, and RPGs advancing on the 11th Engineer Battalion's position. The number of enemy soldiers soon increases to 20- 50 and SFC Smith calls for a Bradley Assault Vehicle for assistance. The wall, the tower, and the gate are now compromised and swarming with enemy soldiers. An M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier(APC) comes to assist Smith and his men in the front of the courtyard. SFC Smith directs the combat fire while RPGs are attacking heavily armoured vehicles from the tower. The APC is hit with mortar fire and all three men operating the vehicle are injured. The Bradley retreats after repeated RPG hits and significant loss of ammunition. It was then when SFC Smith manned the abandoned APC to reestablish fire power dominance in the battle. He was helped by PVT. Michael Seaman who fed ammunition into the .50 cal gun mounted on the APC. SFC Smith put himself in the front line and ordered his men to fall back as he took the APC into the courtyard to cover the entrance as well as the tower. The gun fight ended with SFC Smith incurring a fatal wound to the head, but not before he killed 50 of Saddam's Special Republican Guard. He spent 400 rounds during the heat of the battle keeping medics and wounded safe while a small trio was able to take the tower back. The battle scenario is available to watch at the Army Medal of Honor website. It contains actual sound from the battle. SFC Paul Ray Smith was a soldier, a husband, a father, and a Hero. He is remembered today not only in ceremony or the minds of his friends, families and the people who he inspired, but by honors befitting a hero. SFC Smith was the first Medal of Honor recipient of Iraq as well as the first to receive an American flag flown in his honor to be presented with the Medal. He was also remembered by a Florida Middle School which now bears his name, as well as a Florida post office and the Army's former Simulation & Training Technology Center in Orlando. Bridget Smith also sponsored the Navy's first Littoral Combat Ship. Men like these are the reason we have Memorial Day, so that they are never forgotten, and so their stories can inspire all to greatness. Have an honored Memorial Day, SFC Paul Ray Smith.