[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 12, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E610-E611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SERGEANT FIRST CLASS PAUL RAY SMITH'S MEDAL OF HONOR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2005

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today to honor 
one of our nation's bravest servicemembers, Sergeant First Class Paul 
Ray Smith. Tragically, Sgt. Smith lost his life two years ago while 
serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. For his valor, Sgt. Smith on Monday 
was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
  The Medal of Honor is this nation's highest military honor and is 
awarded in the name of Congress by the President of the United States. 
Before Sgt. Smith, only 3,459 men and women, who have distinguished 
themselves, at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, 
have received the Medal of Honor since its inception in 1861.
  Sgt. Paul Smith is the first recipient of the Medal of Honor for 
service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also is the first to receive 
this great distinction since it was awarded posthumously in 1993 to two 
soldiers who died fighting in Somalia.
  Mr. Speaker, on July 12, 2004, this body approved legislation, signed 
by the President, to name a post office in Holiday, Florida, the 
``Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith Post Office.'' On that date, I 
first spoke about Sgt. Smith's heroic actions. On April 4, 2003, 
outside of Saddam International Airport in Baghdad, Sgt. Smith's unit, 
the Bravo Company of the 11th Engineer Battalion of the 3rd Infantry, 
was tasked with securing a prison for Iraqi prisoners of war at the 
Baghdad airport.
  While Sgt. Smith and his men were working in the POW prison, they 
spotted members of the Republican Guard nearby. Sgt. Smith

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called for a Bradley fighting vehicle, which was at a nearby roadblock, 
and he prepared his men for engagement. Sgt. Smith took charge and led 
the effort while they waited for the Bradley, which would bring an 
intimidating fire force.
  Even though Sgt. Smith and his men were outnumbered by more than two 
to one, they continued to fight back. Without concern for his own life, 
Sgt. Smith jumped on an Army vehicle and began firing a .50 caliber 
machine gun. He fired and reloaded and continued to fire, killing 50 
enemy soldiers until he was shot and killed.
  Sgt. Smith's efforts saved the lives of all of his men and the more 
than a hundred American soldiers in the surrounding area. For Sgt. 
Smith, this was his job. In a letter he wrote to his family, which he 
never mailed, he said, ``It doesn't matter how I come home, because I 
am prepared to give all that I am, to ensure that all my boys make it 
home.''
  Mr. Speaker, the Medal of Honor will never bring Sgt. Smith back to 
his family. He will not be able to play baseball with his son David. He 
will not be able to walk his daughter Jessica down the aisle when she 
gets married. He will no longer be able to kiss his wife Birgit 
goodnight. But because of his unyielding courage, his ``boys'' will 
have that chance with their families.
  Since Sgt. Smith's death, Iraq has been liberated from a brutal 
dictator, had democratic elections, and is now a beacon for freedom and 
hope for all Middle East countries. The United States is safer today 
than we were before the fall of Saddam. I know that without the actions 
of Sgt. Smith and others like him, this goal could not have been 
achieved so promptly. Sgt. Smith's life was not lost in vain.
  We are truly honored to have had a man such as Sgt. First Class Paul 
Ray Smith serve in our nation's military. He has become an inspiration 
to all men and women of the Armed Forces. His story will forever 
resonate in the history of this great nation and his name and legacy 
will never be forgotten. May God bless the Smith family and continue to 
watch over the country Sgt. Smith so loved.

                          ____________________