The United States Army Medal of Honor
Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith - Medal of Honor War on Terrorism
I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade.
“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. We recall with appreciatioon the fellow Soldiers whose lives he saved, and the many more he inspired. And we express or gratitude for a new generation of Americans, every bit as selfless and dedicated to liberty as any that has gone before -- A dedication exemplified by the sacrifice and valor of Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith.”
President George W. Bush,
White House Ceremony, April 4, 2005