Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to fallen solider.
 

The last time a MoH was awarded was for the "Blackhawk Down" situation...more than 10 years ago.

Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously during a White House ceremony April 4, 2005. The official citation will be made available after the White House Presentation.

I'm having hope that people won't turn this into a "war flame" thread. Surely, rather you are against the war, for it, or against it, you can agree that he deserves this honor.

As for the discussion part...why do you think this is only the third Medal of Honor awarded since Vietnam? Is it because the standards are so high?

I'm against the war and I think that guy deserves the medal of honor. He died to save his buddies, that's dedication. I hope his family can get on without him.

There haven't been many Medals of honor since Vietnam because we haven't been in very many big, hot wars since then.

Additionally, if the medal were to be handed out too often, it'd lose meaning.

I agree with Crodevillian Team, and I think that if anyone deserves this medal, it's this guy.

I also agree, we need to "conserve" these medals.

Agreed. Suicide is the best way to award the army's highest honors.

It wasn't a suicide it was self sacrifice. Sucide is something people do when they give up. For all he knew he could have survived the attack he certainly didn't plan on dieing there but he accepted the possibility. In short he didn't give up on life he fought and gave his life to preserve it. There is no greater deed someone can do and for that he deserves every honor we can give him.

Sit down, shut up, and try to learn something.
 

WW, I'm sure your mother or guardian said at one point in your life, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." You may not agree with the war. You may not like any form of military action- that's okay.
However, you have no right to belittle or criticize the most selfless act a man can do.

It's okay, let him state his opinions. Just because we don't agree with him doesn't mean we have to be nasty. I mean...cowards are cowards, right?

All I have to say is this: WonderingWombat, by your words you have shown us one thing: you are a coward who believes in nothing, and would die for no one. Perhaps I am wrong, and if I am I apologize. Just understand that what you said is highly offensive, especially considering that most of us have loved ones in the military, living or dead (which would mean we once had loved ones...ehem...anway...).

Lastly, I ask you this, Wombat: If in that same situation -- and you knew that 100 men who would trust their lives with you would die -- what would you do? Run and hide? Not give your every breath to save them?

Me, I'd go out with a bang. I'd've done the same thing. But...all of us are different, aren't we?

Good day to you.

Uh. Wombat, I don't like that tone of yours. It's easy to dismiss his death as a pointless one from where you're sitting in front of your PC. But believe me, war is hell. I can bet you wouldn't be able to do half the things that 1SG did.

Upon being surprised by a large enemy force, the first thing he did was organize an armed response and evacuate his fellow soldiers. That shows presence of mind and leadership.

And then, in the face of over a hundred armed men with automatic weapons and rocket launchers, not only did he engage them instead of simply taking cover like most soldiers would have done, he went on to extract 3 of his fellow marines from their downed vehicle. Most would have left them for dead - you are a sitting duck when trying to do that kind of thing. He didn't. That's bravery and dedication for you. Remember, the fact that the APC was destroyed and there were wounded indicates effective enemy fire - I.E, there's more of them, they're shootign at you, and they're accurate.

And then, he deliberately put himself in a position of mortal danger to halt the enemy advance. He could have ordered the private to man the machinegun. He didn't. Instead, against incredible odds, he managed to stop the attackers long enough for his fellow soldiers to escape. That, without a doubt, is heroism.

That 1SG earned his MoH. The only shame is that he earned it at the cost of his life.

I feel his story is on par with this one...

Private First Class Carlos Lozada was an M60 gunner with the 173rd Airborne during the Vietnam War when ina ction against North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars near Dak To in the Central Highlands on 20 November 1967. He and two other comrades were in a position 350m from their company perimeter and adjacent to Hill 875. Their task was to warn of any enemy approach.

As the rest of Lozada's battalion started to advance up Hill 875, they came under fire from enemy trenches. As the battle was raging, an NVA company began to move along a trail near Lozada's outpost. He gave the alarm and then began firing his M60, mowing down 20 NVA troops and stalling their advance. But then he and the rest of his company came under NVA gunfire, which wounded his two comrades. Lozada and his comrades were ordered to pull back to the battalion perimeter.

However, while the two wounded men were being evacuated, Lozada himself continued firing, breaking up another NVA attack. But now he was isolated and being attacked on three sides. He continued to fire, cutting down dozens of NVA with his M60. He was eventually killed, but he had killed scores of the enemy with well-aimed burst fire.

For his actions that day Lozada was awarded the Medal of Honor.