Photo: 不明 / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Paul Ray Smith

ポール・R・スミス　/　ぽーる・R・すみす

American soldier

September 24, 1969 – April 4, 2003　・　El Paso, Texas, United States

From Texas
Soldier

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
Blood type: Private
Height: Private
Agency: Private
Occupation: Soldier

2. Background

Elementary school: Private
Junior high: Private
High school: Private
University: Private

Awards & achievements

Medal of Honor
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart

3. Relationships

Spouse: Private
Children: Private
Parents: Private
Siblings: Private

4. Personality

Motto

Private

6. Links

Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9D%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BB%E3%83%AC%E3%82%A4%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B9

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