SFC Paul Smith (B/11 EN, 3rd ID) Baghdad, Iraq 04APR2003

04APR2003: Two weeks into the invasion of Iraq, SFC Paul Smith was found himself just outside Saddam International Airport tasked with setting up a hasty enemy prisoner of war detention area. His team found a triangular shaped courtyard that would do the trick and they set about checking for enemy soldiers in the area.

One end of the courtyard had a metal gate and as soon as some of Smith's Soldiers neared the gate they noticed a substantial enemy force moving on their position. Fire erupted as they notified the rest of their team who were now running to take up defensive positions. Identifying upwards of 100 Iraqi soldiers, SFC Smith called on a nearby Bradley Fighting Vehicle to ram the gate and begin engaging targets.

Three M113 Armored Personnel Carriers arrived and joined in the fight with their .50 caliber machine guns to support Smith and his men. Before long, one APC was hit wounding the crew of three. Running low on ammunition, the Bradley was forced to disengage in order to resupply away from the fight. The damaged APC now served as the only heavy machine gun to defend the position.

With Iraqi fighters occupying and firing from a nearby tower, Smith's men now faced fire from at least three directions. Recognizing that a retreat could roll up the larger American position, SFC Smith manned the APC machine gun and directed the driver to position the vehicle so he could alternate fire between three enemy strongholds. From the tower to the gate to the walls and back, SFC Smith stood steady at his machine gun repelling an enemy force of over 100. As the battle ended, Smith's machine gun fell silent and he was found dead at his position having suffered thirteen separate bullet wounds in the engagement.

SFC Paul Smith's actions allowed his team to hold on in the face of an overwhelming enemy force. His continuous machine gun fire stopped a strong enemy attack in their tracks and saved the lives of countless American Soldiers. For this, SFC Smith would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.