The Mudville Gazette has a story link about a new middle school in Holiday, FL being dedicated to the only Medal of Honor recipient in the Iraq war so far. Sgt. Paul Smith was with the 11th Engineering Battalion building a POW holding center when his unit came under heavy fire from a Company-sized group of Iraqis. Sgt. Smith directed the defense as well as the rescue of wounded soldiers from a stricken armored vehicle, then made his way under fire to an exposed position manning a .50 calibre machine gun on a damaged vehicle to fight off the attack. He stayed in that position, reloading the heavy gun 3 times, before being hit and killed by an enemy bullet.
His family and friends feel that Sgt. Smith would not like the attention of the naming ceremony, but are glad that the school is being named for him. His widow is quoted as saying "If he were here today, he would be explaining he was only doing his job. He was an honest man who did not enjoy being in the spotlight." Others expressed pride that it was a school bearing his name. It was deemed fitting by the 3rd Infantry Division chief of staff Col. Mark McKnight. "I think it's very appropriate. Smith wasn't born a hero, he was developed a hero, and part of that development is your school experience."
The Army website has a tribute page up as well, including the citation and video links.
This is so far reported only on blogs and four military news sites. The mainstream media isn't running it.
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