caption serviceyears branch death_place death_date birth_place allegiance unit awards placeofburial_label battles birth_date placeofburial rank image article_title name
sfc . smith during opening days of operation iraqi freedom 1989 - 2003 20px united states army baghdad , iraq 4 april 2003 el paso , texas united states of america b infantry division company , 11th engineer battalion , 25px 3rd 30px heart medal of honor 30px bronze star 30px purple resting place gulf war bosnian war kosovo war iraq war 24 september 1969 arlington national cemetery arlington , virginia 20px sergeant first class 180px & nbsp ; & nbsp ; 70px paul ray smith
 paul ray smith
paul ray smith

paul ray smith -lrb- september 24 , 1969 -- april 4 , 2003 -rrb- was a united states army sergeant first class who posthumously received the medal of honor for his actions in operation iraqi freedom .
while serving with b company , 11th engineer battalion , 3rd infantry division in baghdad , iraq , his team was attacked by a group of iraqi fighters and after a short firefight he was killed by iraqi fire .
for his actions during this battle he was recommended and approved for the medal of honor .
two years later , the medal , along with the newly approved medal of honor flag , were presented to his family ; specifically to his eleven-year-old son david , at a white house ceremony by the president of the united states george w. bush .
