More On Paul Smith, Medal of Honor WinnerI missed blogging on him receiving the award (posthumously) on Monday, because I'd already covered his
heroic conduct. That was a mistake, as it's impossible to cover a hero like Smith too much.
Here's a
description of the scene as his marker was placed at Arlington.
Here's an article on the
actual awarding of the medal, with a picture of his family.
Another
good article on the ceremony at Arlington.
Matthew Keller, a sergeant in Smith's platoon, hesitated at Grave 67 for his own reasons.
Keller had some things to say, things he had wanted to say ever since the April 2003 day in Baghdad when, outgunned and outmaneuvered, his leader grabbed a machine gun and risked his life, saving about 100 of his men.
A Chance To Say Thanks
Keller was one of them.
He had been at Smith's side then. Now, he felt at Smith's side again.
``I never got to thank him,'' the 26-year-old soldier from Key Largo said.
Keller has had many sleepless nights, horrifying nightmares and recurring visions of the scene, exactly two years and a day earlier, when hundreds of Iraqis surprised their unit from above a courtyard of high walls.
Smith, a 33-year-old platoon leader whom Keller credits with teaching him discipline and attention to detail, and making him a good soldier, had been fighting next to him.
That's when, firing a machine gun, Smith held off the Iraqis, giving his men cover and time to scramble to safety.
Smith took a hit and fell.
