Residual Forces

I caught a clip on Hugh’s show of a ceremony today by President Bush giving the Medal of Honor to one of our heroes.

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Army Sat. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith received the Medal of Honor today. He was not there to receive it. It was presented to his family. Sgt. Smith died April 4, 2003 defending his fallen brothers and sisters in arms. There have been around 3400 Medal of Honor recipients since 1861. This hero was no more special than the other 3399. But his actions he performed to receive this recognition was truly heroic, and worth the story.

From the Wash Post

After helping to evacuate three soldiers who were wounded when a mortar struck their M-113 armored personnel carrier, Smith jumped into the M-113 and climbed into the track commander’s hatch to man its .50-caliber machine gun. Under fire from automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, his flak jacket shredded by bullets or shrapnel, Smith kept fighting until he was felled by a shot to the throat.

“Sgt. 1st Class Smith fired on the advancing enemy from the unprotected position atop the APC and expended at least three boxes of ammunition before being mortally wounded by enemy fire,” his Medal of Honor citation said. “The enemy attack was defeated. Sgt. 1st Class Smith’s actions saved the lives of at least 100 soldiers, caused the failure of a deliberate enemy attack hours after 1st Brigade seized the Baghdad Airport, and resulted in an estimated 20-50 enemy soldiers killed.”

Few on this earth will ever experience what Sgt. Smith did. Most of them that have, wear a uniform proudly, and have my deepest gratitude and respect. This hero gave his life for the safety of his family, his fellow troops, and us. Out numbered and outgunned, he fought on against the odds. He is personally credited with holding back the Iraqi Republican Guard until other soldiers could mount a counter offensive and eliminate the threat from hostile forces.

“He saved everybody out there,” said Pvt. Michael Seaman, of St. Clair, Mich., who was in the M-113 feeding Smith ammunition as the sergeant manned the machine gun.

They make movies about battles like this. The media and anti-war commies use stories of absolute heroism as reasons why we should not have done this.

I only hope that Sgt. Smith’s family remember what the actual Medal of Honor Citation says:
Excerpt:

Sgt. 1st Class Smith’s actions to organize a defense against the deliberate attack were not only effective, but inspired the B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion Soldiers. He then began to lead by example. As the Bradley arrived on site and moved through the hole in the wall toward the gate, Sgt. 1st Class Smith ran to the gate wall and threw a fragmentation grenade at the enemy. He then took two Soldiers forward to join the guards and directed their engagement of the enemy with small arms. The enemy continued to fire rifles, RPGs, and 60mm mortars at the Soldiers on the street and within the courtyard. Enemy soldiers began moving along the buildings on the north side of the clearing to get into position to climb into the towers. Sgt. 1st Class Smith called for an APC to move forward to provide additional fire support. Sgt. 1st Class Smith then fired an AT-4 at the enemy while directing his fire team assembled near the front line of the engagement area.

Running low on ammunition and having taken RPG hits, the Bradley withdrew to reload. The lead APC in the area received a direct hit from a mortar, wounding the three occupants. The enemy attack was at its strongest point and every action counted. Not only were the wounded Soldiers threatened but also more than 100 Soldiers from B Company, the Task Force Aid Station, and the Mortar Platoon were at risk.

Sgt. 1st Class Smith ordered one of his Soldiers to back the damaged APC back into the courtyard after the wounded men had been evacuated. Knowing the APC ’s .50-Cal. machinegun was the largest weapon between the enemy and the friendly position, Sgt. 1st Class Smith immediately assumed the track commander’s position behind the weapon, and told a soldier who accompanied him to “feed me ammunition whenever you hear the gun get quiet.” Sgt. 1st Class Smith fired on the advancing enemy from the unprotected position atop the APC and expended at least three boxes of ammunition before being mortally wounded by enemy fire. The enemy attack was defeated. Sgt. 1st Class Smith’s actions saved the lives of at least 100 Soldiers, caused the failure of a deliberate enemy attack hours after 1st Brigade seized the Baghdad Airport, and resulted in an estimated 20-50 enemy soldiers killed. His actions inspired his platoon, his Company, the 11th Engineer Battalion and Task Force 2-7 Infantry.

May God Bless Army Sat. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith and his family.

Sgt. 1st Class Smith’s actions to lead Soldiers in direct contact with a numerically superior enemy demonstrates conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. His actions prevented a penetration in the Task Force 2-7 sector, defended the aid station, mortars, and scouts, and allowed the evacuation of Soldiers wounded by indirect enemy fire.

Men and women like Sgt. Paul Smith and Sgt. Jesse Lhotka are only a few of the hundreds of thousands that have died defending their Nation. Their stories are not unique. They are not the only ones who have given their lives and touched hearts. But it is not fair to them and their sacrifices to allow their heroic mission in defending America and millions of oppressed and terrorized people around the world, be tarnished. Used by the few pukes that don’t have one ounce of the courage that men and women like these brave heroes have in their little toes.

No doubt there will be movies made of the actions that our Fallen Heroes went through. I suppose we should see the hell of war. But not if it means that actors, not real men and women tell us what war is. War is a necessary evil in our World, I hate it as much as the next. I wish no one had to go fight, and die. But wishes do not reality make.

Remember that there are men and women willing to volunteer to be heroes, and you’ll never forget what made this Great Country of ours. It was made on the blood and tears of the men and women that gave their lives for a Red, White, and Blue piece of clothe on their sleeve.

Say a prayer tonight for America’s Fallen Heroes, and ask God to help watch over their families.