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Podcast: Medal of Honor Podcast
Episode: The Invasion of Iraq: SFC Paul Ray Smith
Description: Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith was among the first group of Americans to invade Iraq in 2003, serving as a combat engineer. On April 4th, 2003, American forces were attempting to seize Saddam Hussein International Airport. SFC Smith was leading two platoons of about three dozen men with the goal of setting up a holding area for prisoners of war, but they were attacked by over 100 members of the Iraqi Republican Guard. Smith quickly organized their defense, but the overwhelming enemy force began to swarm the area. Then, an RPG explosion sent shrapnel into three o...