Medal of Honor for SFC Paul R. Smith
After all the goofing around the last couple of days, I’m finally posting something a little more serious.
No State of the Union blogging here, because everyone else has done it. Commentary? Either you approve of it or you didn’t–what else is new? (I did.) My “roundup”: Start at Wizbang if you want more.
Something as-of-yet shamefully underreported: Via Blackfive: The first Medal of Honor recipient since 1993 has been announced:
Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, who spent his boyhood in Tampa, became a man in the Army and died outside Baghdad defending his outnumbered soldiers from an Iraqi attack, will receive America’s highest award for bravery.
President Bush will present the Medal of Honor to Smith’s wife, Birgit, and their children Jessica, 18, and David, 10, at a ceremony at the White House, possibly in March.
…
What Paul Smith did on April 4, 2003, was climb aboard an armored vehicle and, manning a heavy machine gun, take it upon himself to cover the withdrawal of his men from a suddenly vulnerable position. Smith was fatally wounded by Iraqi fire, the only American to die in the engagement.
A full multimedia report on Sergeant First Class Smith’s story is here. Be sure to check it out, and pay your respects in the guestbook if you wish.
Also check out this call for help for for the 86th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad (patients need comfort items, etc.), also from Blackfive.
Leanne says:
Man I was a sobbing military wife when I read that and watched every bit of information on him lastnight. Imagine the emotions as a wife ranging from pride to sorrow, it’s a fine line that can be really hard to define during grief. His wife… I could just give her the biggest hug ever. God bless SFC Smith, for his completely selfless act of bravery.
NIF says:
Another Day, another $.02
Today’s Dose of NIF
Long Time Gone says:
Medal of Honor
I wanted to help get the word out on the story of a true American hero.
Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, who spent his boyhood in Tampa, became a man in the Army and died outside Baghdad defending his outnumbered soldiers from an Iraqi attack, will r…
Long Time Gone » Medal of Honor says:
[...] nt. Here’s the link to a great multimedia tribute to Sgt. Smith Via Blackfive and My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy | Permalink
RSS feed [...]
Diggers Realm says:
Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith Awarded Medal Of Honor
A Medal of Honor has not been issued since two Special Forces soldiers were awarded them posthumously in 1993 after their unselfish sacrifice in Somalia. Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith joins a small group of true hero’s who have…