Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith was among the first group of Americans to invade Iraq in 2003, serving as a combat engineer. 

On April 4th, 2003, American forces were attempting to seize Saddam Hussein International Airport. SFC Smith was leading two platoons of about three dozen men with the goal of setting up a holding area for prisoners of war, but they were attacked by over 100 members of the Iraqi Republican Guard. Smith quickly organized their defense, but the overwhelming enemy force began to swarm the area. Then, an RPG explosion sent shrapnel into three of Smith’s men. Smith organized their evac, but they were still vulnerable during their retreat. Seeing that a nearby carrier was unmanned, Smith exposed himself to enemy fire in order to man the .50 caliber machine gun on top of the vehicle. He engaged, covering his allies and killing as many as 50 enemies before being hit in the head by an enemy round. He was pulled to safety, but died a few minutes later in a hospital. 

Smith’s leadership and quick thinking saved the lives of over 100 allied soldiers who were in vulnerable positions just a few hundred meters back. Thanks in part to Smith’s heroism, American forces eventually repelled the Iraqi attack and were able to successfully take control of the airport. 

On April 4th, 2005, Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his role in protecting his men and fending off the Iraqi attack.

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