Photo: 不明 / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Smith's story is the kind that humbles you. On April 4, 2003, with his men outnumbered and wounded soldiers behind him, he manned an exposed machine gun on a damaged vehicle and held off dozens of attackers until he was killed, saving lives in the process. He became the first Medal of Honor recipient of the Iraq War, and reading the citation, it is impossible not to be moved by the sheer selflessness of it. He was not a celebrity in any ordinary sense, but his actions define a kind of courage that deserves to be remembered far longer than any entertainer's fame. Genuine valor.
Overview
Paul Ray Smith was a United States Army Sergeant First Class who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, for his actions during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Born in El Paso, Texas, he was killed on April 4, 2003, near Baghdad International Airport after defending wounded comrades against a much larger enemy force. He was the first service member to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in the Iraq War.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Paul Ray Smith
- Name (Japanese)
- ポール・R・スミス
- Reading
- ぽーる・R・すみす
- Born
- September 24, 1969 – April 4, 2003
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Rooster
- Origin
- El Paso, Texas, United States
- Occupation
- Soldier
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- Medal of Honor
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Paul Ray Smith born?
Born September 24, 1969.
When did Paul Ray Smith die?
Died April 4, 2003, aged 33.
Where was Paul Ray Smith from?
Paul Ray Smith was from El Paso, Texas, United States.
What did Paul Ray Smith do?
Paul Ray Smith worked as Soldier.