The Heroics of Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith

While constructing a prisoner of war holding area at Baghdad International Airport on April 4, 2003, Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith’s unit was ambushed by hundreds of Saddam Hussein's Republican Guard. He quickly rallied his men and led a counterattack against the enemy forces. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Smith moved under fire to man a .50-caliber machine gun. During this action, he was mortally wounded. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, which helped to safeguard the lives of more than 100 American soldiers.
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