05 LC 29
1936
Senate
Resolution 617
By:
Senators Johnson of the 1st, Douglas of the 17th, Staton of the 18th, Stephens
of the 27th, Kemp of the 46th and others
A
RESOLUTION
In
memory of and honoring the life and service of Sergeant First Class Paul Ray
Smith; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith is the first recipient of the Medal of Honor
for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and this award is the military´s highest award
for courageous action; and
WHEREAS,
the community at Fort Stewart and our nation lost one of its finest husbands,
fathers, citizens, and soldiers when Sergeant First Class Smith, a combat
engineer of Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, Task Force 2-7, Third
Infantry Division gave his life on April 4, 2003, defending the people of Iraq
and his country while fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom; and
WHEREAS,
Sergeant First Class Smith led a defense of a compound at the Battle of Baghdad
Airport against a much larger force of Special Republican Guard troops in an
intense 90 minute firefight, hurling a grenade over the compound´s wall and
blasting an antitank missile at a guard tower, manning a .50-caliber machine
gun, repeatedly firing and reloading three times before he was mortally wounded,
allowing wounded American soldiers to be evacuated, protecting his Task
Force´s flank, killing 20 to 50 Iraqis, and saving an aid station and as
many as 100 lives; and
WHEREAS,
the Medal of Honor, received by only 832 people since World War II, has not been
awarded to any solider since 1993, and Sergeant First Class Smith´s actions
and extreme heroism earned him his award after his nomination wended its way
through more than 12 levels of military and presidential reviews over the past
two years; and
WHEREAS,
the Medal of Honor signifies that a soldier acted valiantly in a moment of
extraordinary pressure and represents the best in soldiering skills; and
WHEREAS,
this young war hero who grew up in Tampa, Florida, enlisted in the Army in 1989,
served in the 1991 Persian Gulf war, and was affectionately known as a
taskmaster; and
WHEREAS,
this exceptional and thoughtful soldier exhibited outstanding leadership,
patriotism, courage, and dedication in his service to this state and nation in
the Army; and
WHEREAS,
his unparalleled leadership talents, his remarkable patience and diplomacy, his
keen sense of vision, and his acute sensitivity to the needs of his soldiers
earned him respect and admiration; and
WHEREAS,
Sergeant First Class Smith selflessly gave his life in the service and defense
of his country, and his heroism will never be forgotten; and
.
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to pay tribute to this fallen hero.
.
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to pay tribute to this fallen hero.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that each and every member of this body
hereby honors the memory of Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith, expresses their
deep and abiding appreciation of his service and ultimate sacrifice, and conveys
to his family their sincere condolences and sympathy.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of Sergeant
First Class Paul Ray Smith.