Bush to Present Medal of Honor for Valor

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050404/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/medal_of_honor&cid=542&ncid=1480

~snip~

On Monday, exactly two years after his death, President Bush is awarding Smith the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor, and presenting it to his widow, Birgit, daughter and son.


It is only the third Medal of Honor given for actions since the Vietnam War, and the first from the Iraq war.


Smith, 33, was the senior sergeant in a platoon of engineers during the 3rd Infantry Division's northward sprint toward Baghdad.


By the morning of April 4, elements of the division had reached Baghdad and captured Baghdad International Airport, a key objective. Encircled Iraqi militiamen and Special Republican Guard forces inside launched counterattacks.



.... do they have a photo of Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith with this article? Um, no... they chose another chimp shot. :grr:

[tritsofme]

1. We are blessed that such men are among us

I'm sure the soldiers he saved and their families will be eternally grateful for his selfless act of sacrifice.

[booksenkatz]

2. How can the president bestow an award 2 years after his death?

Oh, I see, the modifier is misplaced.
:crazy:

/hating paid writers who don't have a grasp of the basics of writing

[rfranklin]

3. He is the thing that would not die....

President Zombie.

[slor]

4. The ultimate coward has no place...

presenting anything!

[wellst0nev0ter]

5. Better Than Purple Hearts Bandages Any Day

[wakeme2008]

6. Well they could have used this one

[0007]

7. If the Jessica Lynch story wasn't exposed, would she had gotten

a medal of honor for shooting all those Iraqis and then fighting with a knife after she ran out of ammunition? :shrug:

[leftchick]

8. good question....

thank God she was an honest about it. We know we can't trust the pentagon tales.

[leftchick]

9. I found His Photo....

Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith is seen in this undated handout photo provided by the U.S. Army. Smith's family is scheduled to receive the Medal of Honor during White House ceremonies Monday, April 4, 2005 for his actions during the invasion of Iraq. He was killed in action when his outnumbered unit was attacked by Iraqi forces at the Baghdad airport April 4, 2003 and is credited for saving hundreds of lives. (AP Photo/U.S. Army)


Too late to edit. His photo deserves to be in the OP! :(

RIP hero!

[0007]

10. Self Preservation is a Natural Instinct -

It is an inborn pattern of behavior to survive under all circumstance. A characteristic of human beings and other animals and is often a response to specific environmental stimuli such as war, in man's case.

Two years later this guy is going to be awarded the Medal Of Honor by the President of the United States.

I'll leave the rest for astuteness.

[Goathead]

11. Garuns they did a background check on the family.

To see if they were anti-war or not and if they would tow the party line. This is just a political ploy, every act like this on the part of the misadministration validates their reason for war. Don't fall for it.

[bluedog]

12. Son blamed bush

They never print what really was stated by David (the son).....the yahoo story.... pure pro war............the St Pete times..touches on David and his thoughts.




He blamed President Bush for sending his father to war and vowed to say something if he ever met him. "He would cop an attitude for no reason and talk back," said Jessica Smith, 18.

The anger is less acute now. On the bridge, David puts himself at 8.

"I understand more now," he said. "In the beginning I didn't understand anything. All I understood was Dad's dead. Now I know what the Medal of Honor is and what it means. I understand he did something great."

David is tired of answering questions about what the medal means to him. When the TV cameras come around, he usually gets lost. "It means something real good, but it doesn't bring back my dad," he said, recounting what he told a reporter from CBS's Early Show .


more@
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/04/Tampabay/Son_accepts_medal_for.shtml

[leftchick]

13. Wow! Thanks for the link....

I always loved the SPT when I lived in Florida. It is great to read some real reporting and know the whole story.

[bluedog]

14. Pictures...real story St pete Tims

David and Jessica Smith in New Port Richey on the day of their father's funeral in April.




Prepping for war, soldiers of B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion pose for a group picture in Kuwait. They spent about two months in Kuwait, then entered Iraq on March 20. Paul Smith is seen in the back row center, wearing sunglasses.


complete 5 page story

The last full measure of devotion

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/webspecials04/medalofhonor/story.shtml

[bluedog]

15. I hate Yahoo

they have bushs picture beside this story..........hes not the hero.............the soldier Paul Smith is.............

[malmapus]

16. A hero

Really at a loss of words when I read about SFC Smith.

/salute

[Moderator]

17. kick to combine

[emad]

18. Bush awards Medal of Honor

Florida soldier killed in Iraq 2 years ago wins highest award for valor for actions that saved lives of at least 100 comrades.

David Smith, 11, accepts the Medal of Honor from President Bush on behalf of his late father. With them are David's mother, Birgit Smith, and sister, Jessica, 18. Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith is the first recipient from the Iraq war. -- Mark Wilson / Getty Images

More than 3,400 people have received the Medal of Honor. Two of the 76 recipients from Indiana still are living: Sammy L. Davis, a Vietnam War veteran formerly of Indianapolis, and Melvin E. Biddle, a World War II veteran and native of Daleville.
http://www.indystar.com/articles/5/234485-3315-010.html

[Deep13]

19. and Hilter awards Peace Prize.

Pavoratti gives fitness awards.

[rkc3]

20. At least SFC Smith was KIA and didn't have to suffer the questions of

whether he "deserved" the medal when running against Jenna in 2024.

[Ganja Ninja]

21. Medal of Honor band-aids?

I wouldn't put it past them.:sarcasm: