First Medal of Honor recipient in war on terror

[Accord]

WASHINGTON ? Two years to the day after his father died saving more than 100 fellow soldiers in the battle for Baghdad?s airport, the young son of an Army noncommissioned officer accepted his father?s Medal of Honor from President Bush at a White House ceremony today.

 

The president presented the nation?s highest award for combat gallantry to 11-year-old David Anthony Smith, son of Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith. Alongside the president and the boy were Smith?s widow, Birgit, and the couple?s 18-year-old daughter, Jessica.

 

This is the first time the Medal of Honor has been awarded for action in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the global war on terror.

 

Smith was part of the 3rd Infantry Division?s buildup for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and among the first wave of soldiers that crossed the Kuwait border into Iraq on March 19, 2003, the first day of the war. He died saving the lives of at least 100 soldiers who were badly outnumbered by enemy forces.

 

In presenting the award, Bush described Smith as ?a soldier whose service illustrates the highest ideals of leadership and love of our country.?

 

Bush recalled Smith?s early life and career in the Army and described the battle that took his life.

 

Smith?s mission, as the 3rd Infantry Division moved in to seize what is now known as Baghdad International Airport, was to build a holding area for enemy prisoners of war. ?Sergeant Smith was leading about three dozen men,? Bush said, ?when they were surprised by about 100 of Saddam Hussein?s Republican Guard.

 

?With complete disregard for his own life, and under constant enemy fire, Sergeant Smith rallied his men and led a counterattack. Seeing that his wounded men were in danger of being overrun, ? Sergeant Smith manned a .50-caliber machine gun atop a damaged armored vehicle.

 

?From a completely exposed position, he killed as many as 50 enemy soldiers as he protected his men.? Bush said. ?Sergeant Smith?s leadership saved the men in the courtyard, and he prevented an enemy attack on the aid station just up the road.?

 

Bush said Smith continued to fire until he ?took a fatal round to the head. His actions in that courtyard saved the lives of more than 100 American soldiers.? Soldiers who served with Smith described him as a stern disciplinarian who demanded much of the men under his command, Bush said. Yet Smith also demonstrated incredible concern, going out of his way to make life easier for his soldiers and their families, he added.

 

In a letter he wrote to his parents from Iraq, but never mailed, Bush said, the sergeant called it a ?privilege to be given 25 of the finest Americans we call soldiers to lead into war.? Smith said he was prepared to give ?all that I am to ensure that my boys make it home.?

 

In addition to being the global war on terror?s first Medal of Honor recipient, Smith is the first to earn a Medal of Honor flag, authorized by Congress in 2002.

 

?We count ourselves blessed to have soldiers like Sergeant Smith, who put their lives on the line to advance the cause of freedom and protect the American people,? the president said. ?Like every one of the men and women in uniform who have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sergeant Paul Smith was a volunteer.

 

?We thank his family for the father, husband and son and brother who can never be replaced,? Bush continued. ?We recall with appreciation the fellow soldiers whose lives he saved and the many more he inspired. And we express our gratitude for a new generation of Americans every bit as selfless and dedicated to liberty as any that has gone on before, a dedication exemplified by the sacrifice and valor of Sergeant 1st Class Paul Ray Smith.?

 

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Marine Gen. Peter Pace, Army Secretary Francis Harvey and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pete Schoomaker were on hand at the White House for the ceremony. Also present were soldiers from the Army?s 3rd Infantry Division, Smith?s unit in Iraq.

 

Ceremonies in Smith?s honor are planned April 5 at the Pentagon?s Hall of Heroes and at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

:notworthy

[OldSand]

What a kick ass soldier. And now, the movie.

[The Marlin Man]

god bless that man and god bless america

[IknowFeloRamirezIRL]

god bless that man and god bless america

840759[/snapback]

 

Yes, god bless murder.

[Flying_Mollusk]

god bless that man and god bless america

840759[/snapback]

 

Yes, god bless murder.

840773[/snapback]

The soldier was just doing his job and was brave and selfless doing it. Lets avoid making this a political thing about the Iraqi war.

[Accord]

god bless that man and god bless america

840759[/snapback]

 

Yes, god bless murder.

840773[/snapback]

You're an absolute moron.

[IknowFeloRamirezIRL]

Out of respect to F_M wishes, I'll refrain from responding even though I am very tempted.

 

Instead I'll just leave you with this insightful little refrain:

 

The insatiable thirst for power has made,

Idols out of mortals, gods into clay,

Soldiers into heros, children into slaves.

All damned

Desires,

Their hopes betrayed.

[Accord]

Out of respect to F_M wishes, I'll refrain from responding even though I am very tempted.

 

Instead I'll just leave you with this insightful little refrain:

 

The insatiable thirst for power has made,

Idols out of mortals, gods into clay,

Soldiers into heros, children into slaves.

All damned

Desires,

Their hopes betrayed.

841676[/snapback]

It doesn't matter what you had to say, to discredit his heroism simply because you do not believe in the cause is nothing short of absurd. My statement still stands:

 

You're an absolute moron.

841663[/snapback]

[IknowFeloRamirezIRL]

I'm a moron but you're a tool.

 

Fact remains, he is as much a hero to you as the suicide bombers and Bin Laden are to extreme fundamentalist Muslims, as the SS and Heinrich Himmler were to the Nazis...

 

Murderers and casualties of war.

 

For examples of true courage see: Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi

 

"True courage is not the brutal force of vulgar heroes, but the firm resolve of virtue and reason."

-Alfred North Whitehead

[Accord]

I'm a moron but you're a tool.

 

Fact remains, he is as much a hero to you as the suicide bombers and Bin Laden are to extreme fundamentalist Muslims, as the SS and Heinrich Himmler were to the Nazis...

 

Murderers and casualties of war.

 

For examples of true courage see: Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi

 

"True courage is not the brutal force of vulgar heroes, but the firm resolve of virtue and reason."

-Alfred North Whitehead

841734[/snapback]

I didn't realize Michael Crook was a member of MB.com, nice to meet you .

 

Incredible, just incredible.

 

This man single handedly sacrificed himself to save the lives of his fellow soldiers that he swore to protect and was appropriately awarded the highest honor that this country has to offer, and you're sitting here comparing him to suicide bombers, Bin Laden, and Himmler?

 

There's a lot of members on this forum who I disagree with on a regular basis like F_M, but I always respect they're opinions and beliefs and try to reply in a mature manner no matter how heated it gets, but you sir, are an ignorant piece of sh!t and there is nothing more to it than that.

 

Un-f***ing-believable.

 

I have nothing more to say to you other than thank god there are great men like SFC Smith in this world.

[IknowFeloRamirezIRL]

And what? You fail to see how it is the same for the other side. Those people he killed, and that killed him were also sacrificing themselves to protect the lives of their fellow soldiers and countrymen. The same argument can be made that they are heroes, but you certainly wouldn't consider the man that killed the Sergeant a hero? Or would you? Using your logic you would, I suppose.

 

Or maybe you suppose that they don't have families or friends, wives or children, they're just faceless automatons, right?

 

As fas as the medal of Honor goes, that is all gallantry and pageantry. Propaganda. Keep eating it up.

[MarlinFan10]

This guy was an amazing, pwning American soldier. Guys like him are the reason America is the strongest country in the world.

[legacyofCangelosi]

Felo unlike F_m is in need of a history lesson. I'll agree with the statement about Dr. King and Gandhi, if you can accomplish what they did without violence it is an incredible feat. However, let me give you an example of the opposite. War is evil according to you, and I agree it is a terrible thing. In the early nineties 800,000 civilians died in Rwanda. General Dallaire of the UN peacekeeping force was stationed there to basically pull a Gandhi. 2 days before the assassination of the Rwandan president after his plane was shot down, Dallaire's men discovered a hidden weapons cache that belonged to the radical Hutu's who were staging the assassination. Dallaire and his murderers had the manpower to seize the weapons and stop the radical hutus from completing their mission. Fortnately, (in the mind of someone such as yourself), peace prevailed and Annan (who was then the minister of the peacekeeping unit) ordered that dallaire not attack the rebel forces, and to try to resolve it peacefully. It was a valiant effort by dallaire and his men to try to save lives, but had they attacked that base they would have saved 800,000 lives (women and children included). Sure his murderous hoardes would have killed or injured a few hundred hutu radicals, but they would have saved innocent lives.

Meanwhile, Paul Rusesabagina saved a few hundred lives by sneaking refugees into his hotel. He succeeded in saving lives peacefully, dallaire could not. but wiht violence he could have saved lives. The moral of the story is that quite often to save lives we must take lives. The Iraqi war is terrible, and should not have happened. however, these soldiers who were put in there to do their jobs did not have say in whether or not to onvade, they just were doing their duties. And Sgt. Smith saved his men's lives. You can say he lost his life b/c of political incompetence, and thats fine, but he is a hero b/c he saved his men's lives. The Iraqi who shot him to save his men is also a hero. Both of those men are brave. War should be limited and hopefully destroyed, but without war none of us woulkd have the freedoms we have today. Even a liberal like f_m can agree wiht that much, and if you dont then you need to either grow up, read up on your history, or get smacked by logic and reality.

[The Marlin Man]

cangelosi

 

that was beautifully put

[Flying_Mollusk]

The Iraqi war is terrible, and should not have happened. however, these soldiers who were put in there to do their jobs did not have say in whether or not to onvade, they just were doing their duties. And Sgt. Smith saved his men's lives. You can say he lost his life b/c of political incompetence, and thats fine, but he is a hero b/c he saved his men's lives. The Iraqi who shot him to save his men is also a hero.

 

I think thats the thrust of what felo was saying. That war is not something to be glorified or for God to bless. I wont put words in his mouth, but if he is an unconditional pacifist, thats something he is entitled too even though I disagree.

 

I think the whole problem with this war and other wars is that the war is mixed up with the soliders who act in it. Certainly some soliders go for the killing and others go because they must. But both sides of the debate have unnecessarily blurred war and its participants.

 

Maybe the ultimate problem is that the need to use force is too blurry for absolutles yet the absolutists have ruled the day.

[legacyofCangelosi]

The Iraqi war is terrible, and should not have happened. however, these soldiers who were put in there to do their jobs did not have say in whether or not to onvade, they just were doing their duties. And Sgt. Smith saved his men's lives. You can say he lost his life b/c of political incompetence, and thats fine, but he is a hero b/c he saved his men's lives. The Iraqi who shot him to save his men is also a hero.

 

I think thats the thrust of what felo was saying. That war is not something to be glorified or for God to bless. I wont put words in his mouth, but if he is an unconditional pacifist, thats something he is entitled too even though I disagree.

 

I think the whole problem with this war and other wars is that the war is mixed up with the soliders who act in it. Certainly some soliders go for the killing and others go because they must. But both sides of the debate have unnecessarily blurred war and its participants.

 

Maybe the ultimate problem is that the need to use force is too blurry for absolutles yet the absolutists have ruled the day.

841873[/snapback]

 

I was actually curious as to how you would respond to my post. Now im waiting for Felo. Problem is that no one should be an unconditional anything, as you said theres no room for absolutes, and it goes to the hawks as well as the pacifists. And when someone degrades and diminishes the bravery of a human being solely b/c you disgaree with the politics, you are being as bad as the people you are accusing. Medals and honor is propaganda? Well the media has launched its own propaganda campaign agains the war in iraq to try to pollute people's minds. they do this without showing the reality of what is going on ,they merely show grim statistics

[Flying_Mollusk]

The Iraqi war is terrible, and should not have happened. however, these soldiers who were put in there to do their jobs did not have say in whether or not to onvade, they just were doing their duties. And Sgt. Smith saved his men's lives. You can say he lost his life b/c of political incompetence, and thats fine, but he is a hero b/c he saved his men's lives. The Iraqi who shot him to save his men is also a hero.

 

I think thats the thrust of what felo was saying. That war is not something to be glorified or for God to bless. I wont put words in his mouth, but if he is an unconditional pacifist, thats something he is entitled too even though I disagree.

 

I think the whole problem with this war and other wars is that the war is mixed up with the soliders who act in it. Certainly some soliders go for the killing and others go because they must. But both sides of the debate have unnecessarily blurred war and its participants.

 

Maybe the ultimate problem is that the need to use force is too blurry for absolutles yet the absolutists have ruled the day.

841873[/snapback]

 

I was actually curious as to how you would respond to my post. Now im waiting for Felo. Problem is that no one should be an unconditional anything, as you said theres no room for absolutes, and it goes to the hawks as well as the pacifists. And when someone degrades and diminishes the bravery of a human being solely b/c you disgaree with the politics, you are being as bad as the people you are accusing. Medals and honor is propaganda? Well the media has launched its own propaganda campaign agains the war in iraq to try to pollute people's minds. they do this without showing the reality of what is going on ,they merely show grim statistics

841882[/snapback]

 

I certainly agree this guy deserves the medal for his bravery. Whatever his reasons for doing so, his acts her brave and they did save lives.

 

But I dont agree on the media's supposed campaign against the war. You cant blame the media everytime public opinion turns. Is it very possible that things arent going very well and the American people have made that conclusion on their own? Isnt it possible they have looked at how long we have been there, with no help from the media, and have questioned how long we have to be there? Isnt it possible that theyve listened to not liberals like Tommy Franks and John McCain? Nobody complained when the media rode along the tanks and cheered for Bush and silenced the critics prior and during the actual war itself. There have been little to no stats on how many Iraqis have died from the media. So its just not fair to blame the media because the American people are making their own conclusions.

[IknowFeloRamirezIRL]

There have been little to no stats on how many Iraqis have died from the media. So its just not fair to blame the media because the American people are making their own conclusions.

841895[/snapback]

 

Civilians reported killed by military intervention in Iraq:

Min

22787

 

Max

25814

 

http://www.iraqbodycount.net/

 

American Military Deaths

[IknowFeloRamirezIRL]

The Iraqi war is terrible, and should not have happened. however, these soldiers who were put in there to do their jobs did not have say in whether or not to onvade, they just were doing their duties. And Sgt. Smith saved his men's lives. You can say he lost his life b/c of political incompetence, and thats fine, but he is a hero b/c he saved his men's lives. The Iraqi who shot him to save his men is also a hero.

 

I think thats the thrust of what felo was saying. That war is not something to be glorified or for God to bless. I wont put words in his mouth, but if he is an unconditional pacifist, thats something he is entitled too even though I disagree.

 

I think the whole problem with this war and other wars is that the war is mixed up with the soliders who act in it. Certainly some soliders go for the killing and others go because they must. But both sides of the debate have unnecessarily blurred war and its participants.

 

Maybe the ultimate problem is that the need to use force is too blurry for absolutles yet the absolutists have ruled the day.

841873[/snapback]

 

I was actually curious as to how you would respond to my post. Now im waiting for Felo. Problem is that no one should be an unconditional anything, as you said theres no room for absolutes, and it goes to the hawks as well as the pacifists. And when someone degrades and diminishes the bravery of a human being solely b/c you disgaree with the politics, you are being as bad as the people you are accusing. Medals and honor is propaganda? Well the media has launched its own propaganda campaign agains the war in iraq to try to pollute people's minds. they do this without showing the reality of what is going on ,they merely show grim statistics

841882[/snapback]

 

 

Cangelosi, for the most part you seem to agree with me, and like F_M said you got the jist of what I was trying to say. I agree, I might have come off as an insensitive prick when I made the posts above. But I was merely trying to employ a little sensationalism to try and drive the point home and provoke some thought. Most Americans read this and think, "Kickass! Look at what this guy did" I was just trying to emphazise the duality of it all. No one ever seems to think about how these people have lives as well.

 

I was also especially incensed by the "god bless this man" and "god bless America" comments, because if anything war goes against everything god stands for. Why would god bless such carnage? But these are topics for another discussion.

 

By the way, yes I am fully aware of what happened in Rwanda, and of Rusesabagina 's story. He would definitely qualify as a hero under my previous post. But I am still not sold on the fight fire with fire rhetoric, because there is always another option. Sometimes those options fail, but its not quite as one-dimensional as you describe it.

 

As far as the medal and the ceremonies go, don't you think that instead of receiving a medal, this boy would have preferred to have his father? I think so, I think the Sergeant would probably have wanted that as well.

 

That's it for now.

[MarlinGuru]

There have been little to no stats on how many Iraqis have died from the media. So its just not fair to blame the media because the American people are making their own conclusions.

841895[/snapback]

 

Civilians reported killed by military intervention in Iraq:

Min

22787

 

Max

25814

 

http://www.iraqbodycount.net/

 

American Military Deaths

841896[/snapback]

 

I doubt that is the amount of civilians killed. That number is probably in the uppoer 40's to 50's.

[SongInTheAir]

I completely disagree with the war on Iraq, or on "terror".

That; however, has nothing to do with the fact that was this man did was amazing and even superhuman. The man is a true hero, and that anyone would discredit his heroism because of political disagreement is just beyond ridiculous.

[IknowFeloRamirezIRL]

There have been little to no stats on how many Iraqis have died from the media. So its just not fair to blame the media because the American people are making their own conclusions.

841895[/snapback]

 

Civilians reported killed by military intervention in Iraq:

Min

22787

 

Max

25814

 

http://www.iraqbodycount.net/

 

American Military Deaths

841896[/snapback]

 

I doubt that is the amount of civilians killed. That number is probably in the uppoer 40's to 50's.

841906[/snapback]

 

Well I'm guessing that its probably a conservative estimate, but it really is impossible to tell. I wouldn't be surprised if its as much as you say.

[Flying_Mollusk]

The Iraqi war is terrible, and should not have happened. however, these soldiers who were put in there to do their jobs did not have say in whether or not to onvade, they just were doing their duties. And Sgt. Smith saved his men's lives. You can say he lost his life b/c of political incompetence, and thats fine, but he is a hero b/c he saved his men's lives. The Iraqi who shot him to save his men is also a hero.

 

I think thats the thrust of what felo was saying. That war is not something to be glorified or for God to bless. I wont put words in his mouth, but if he is an unconditional pacifist, thats something he is entitled too even though I disagree.

 

I think the whole problem with this war and other wars is that the war is mixed up with the soliders who act in it. Certainly some soliders go for the killing and others go because they must. But both sides of the debate have unnecessarily blurred war and its participants.

 

Maybe the ultimate problem is that the need to use force is too blurry for absolutles yet the absolutists have ruled the day.

841873[/snapback]

 

I was actually curious as to how you would respond to my post. Now im waiting for Felo. Problem is that no one should be an unconditional anything, as you said theres no room for absolutes, and it goes to the hawks as well as the pacifists. And when someone degrades and diminishes the bravery of a human being solely b/c you disgaree with the politics, you are being as bad as the people you are accusing. Medals and honor is propaganda? Well the media has launched its own propaganda campaign agains the war in iraq to try to pollute people's minds. they do this without showing the reality of what is going on ,they merely show grim statistics

841882[/snapback]

 

 

Cangelosi, for the most part you seem to agree with me, and like F_M said you got the jist of what I was trying to say. I agree, I might have come off as an insensitive prick when I made the posts above. But I was merely trying to employ a little sensationalism to try and drive the point home and provoke some thought. Most Americans read this and think, "Kickass! Look at what this guy did" I was just trying to emphazise the duality of it all. No one ever seems to think about how these people have lives as well.

 

I was also especially incensed by the "god bless this man" and "god bless America" comments, because if anything war goes against everything god stands for. Why would god bless such carnage? But these are topics for another discussion.

 

By the way, yes I am fully aware of what happened in Rwanda, and of Rusesabagina 's story. He would definitely qualify as a hero under my previous post. But I am still not sold on the fight fire with fire rhetoric, because there is always another option. Sometimes those options fail, but its not quite as one-dimensional as you describe it.

 

As far as the medal and the ceremonies go, don't you think that instead of receiving a medal, this boy would have preferred to have his father? I think so, I think the Sergeant would probably have wanted that as well.

 

That's it for now.

841903[/snapback]

 

Yeah, thats what I figured you meant. I certainly understand your frustration.

[The Marlin Man]

I did not say "god bless war".....

 

i distinctly said "god bless that man and god bless america".....why? because what that man did was uphold fundemental american values by putting his men first.....selflessness, persistence, perseverance....qualities imbeded in our constitution and that should be embodied by all of us.....this man went above and beyond in upholding these characteristics and acted like a true american.....not because he was killing, but be cause he acted for the lives of his men and sacraficed his own.

 

for you to be incensed by me making that statment is, i think, uncalled for.......i never mentioned the killing or the war.....i mentioned that mans bravery, which is being recognized by everyone, and i also mentioned the american qualities which he upheld

 

you were the one that brought war into this, Felo

[legacyofCangelosi]

Sorry but there have been times in history when violence has been the last and only resort, it is naive to think otherwise.

You also dont realize that perhaps what the sergeant wanted most was to fight for his country and his men. You cannot assume otherwise, and neither can I. Yes im sure the little boy would have wanted his father to be alive, but perhaps later in life he will feel pride in what his father did and that sacrifice may make him a better person. Again, I'm assuming, as are you. Things are not that simple. If you feel that war is never good, i respect your idealism, but respectfully disagree