Posted on 10/12/2003 10:54:04 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
Dave Eberhart, NewsMax.comWashington, D.C. -- One of the highlights of the Association of the U.S. Armys annual meeting at the New Washington Convention Center (Oct. 6-8) was the cadre of young decorated heroes fresh back from the fighting in Iraq who were invited to participate in this years events.
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2003
When NewsMax caught up with a couple of them, however, it wasnt their own war stories that flowed, but the tale of valor of one of their own -- Sergeant First Class Paul Smith, age 33, Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division, who died heroically leading his squad in battle Friday, April 4, 2003, in Baghdad, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Smith is the first soldier recommended for the Medal of Honor, the countrys highest decoration for valor in combat, since the Global War on Terrorism combat period began. The convention featured a display honoring the fallen American hero.
Staff Sergeant Charles McNally, also of the 11th Engineers, told NewsMax, I believe in my heart that he deserves and will get the award. His friend and fellow combat veteran, Sergeant E-5 David S. Spooner said simply, I agree.
The two soldiers described that in the fighting to take the airport at Baghdad, the unit came under intense mortar and small arms fire. They told how Sergeant E-5 Lewis Berwald was manning a big 50 caliber machine gun mounted on the top of an armored personnel carrier, blasting away at the enemy through two and one-half boxes of the heavy ammo before being knocked out of action by a mortar explosion.
Smith immediately exposed himself to the incoming fusillade and took over the gun.
During a keynote address at the AUSA convention, the senior U.S. commander on the ground in Iraq, Lt. Gen. William S. Wallace, noted Smiths actions:
Sergeant Smith directed fire of his unit, led casualty evacuation under intense fire.
Wallace said that Smith told his men, Every time you hear the .50 caliber go silent. Hand me up a can of ammo."
"The gun went silent three times. The fourth time, there was no call [for more ammo], Wallace said in describing how the counterattack from the Republican Guards was finally broken by Smith's fire direction.
Smith had been killed by enemy small arms fire. Berwall, the man he relieved on the gun, survived his wounds.
Lt. Gen. William S. Wallace, now commanding general of the Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, said of the troops he led: They were every thing you could want in a soldier. They were everything you could want in an American.
SFC Smith was a native of El Paso, Texas. Born Sept 24, 1969, he was raised in the Tampa, Fla., area, where he was a 1989 graduate of Tampa Vo Tech.
After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he began his 13-year career. During his service, he received many awards, ribbons, and medals, including: five Army Commendation Medals, six Army Achievement Medals, one Kuwait Liberation Medal, one NATO Liberation Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, and three Good Conduct Medals.
For his most recent combat, Smith has also posthumously received the Bronze Star with V for valor and the Purple Heart. His commanding officer nominated him for the nations highest award for bravery.
For those who remember Audie Murphy of World War Two fame -- who also served with the vaunted 3rd Infantry -- the scene of Smith on his gun was very reminiscent of Murphys single-handed fire fight against advancing German soldiers, using a machine gun mounted on top of a flaming tank. He was also awarded the MOH and wore the same distinctive flash marks of the famous fighting 3rd Infantry Division on his helmet and uniform.
Survivors of the heroic soldier include his wife of 11 years, Birgit Smith of Hinesville, Georgia; a son, David Anthony Smith of Hinesville; and a daughter, Jessica Martha Smith of Hinesville.
|
|
wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." - John Adams - |
|
|
Smith is the first soldier recommended for the Medal of Honor, the countrys highest decoration for valor in combat, since the Global War on Terrorism combat period began.
American hero who gave all.
If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).
R I P
May the Lord wrap you in the peace that passeth understanding.
What a testement to the American spirit and the American soldier. I am in awe of these young people and what they are doing.
I hope someone is taking care of his family as well as he took care of us.
Salute SFC Smith.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.