Paul Ray Smith was a United States Army soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor. He was born on September 24, 1969, in Tampa, Florida.

Paul Smith enlisted in the Army in 1989 and served as a Sergeant First Class in the 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On April 4, 2003, during the Battle of Baghdad, Smith’s unit was engaged in a fierce firefight with Iraqi forces near the Baghdad International Airport. Smith’s platoon was responsible for constructing a temporary prisoner-of-war holding area.

As the battle intensified, Smith realized that his position was vulnerable to attack and that his fellow soldiers were in imminent danger. Without hesitation, he organized a defense of the position and coordinated the evacuation of wounded soldiers.

During the battle, an enemy armored vehicle breached the perimeter and began firing on the position. In a display of extraordinary bravery, Smith grabbed a machine gun and exposed himself to the enemy fire in order to engage the vehicle. He single-handedly destroyed the enemy vehicle, but tragically, he was mortally wounded in the process.

Paul Smith’s heroic actions and selfless sacrifice saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers and allowed them to regroup and successfully repel the enemy attack.

On April 4, 2005, exactly two years after his heroic actions, President George W. Bush presented the Medal of Honor posthumously to Paul Smith’s parents during a ceremony at the White House. He became the first recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions during the Iraq War. His citation reads: “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.”

Paul Smith’s bravery and sacrifice continue to serve as an inspiration to his fellow soldiers and all those who honor his memory. He is remembered as a true American hero who selflessly gave his life to protect his comrades and uphold the values of the United States.

Medal of Honor 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 April 4, 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 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 60 mm 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.