Remembering SFC Paul Smith, the Medal of Honor, and The Tower

[Iraq Ninja]

Near the Baghdad International Airport is a little piece of hallowed ground that goes unnoticed by the majority of the soldiers and civilians who work nearby. There are no plaques, no statues, and no flowers. Only a bullet riddled structure and a rusting flag pole hints at what deeds were done here on April 4th 2003.

It is the location where Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith won the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I call it “The Tower”

I have made The Tower a personal pilgrimage of mine since 2004.
Today, The Tower is much as it was seven years ago, except for the lower level being used to store construction materials. Some of the walls surrounding the tower have been removed, and there is now a dirt road running through the compound. I fear that The Tower will soon end up as a pile of rocks.

On the top floor of The Tower one can see notes written by visiting soldiers and Marines over the years, paying homage to a fellow American and Warrior. Hanging from the ceiling is a single ammo can suspended byy 550 cord. It is being used as a geo cache container. Inside the can is a document describing the actions of SFC Smith and his soldiers. A small American flag lays in the bottom of the can.

If you are unfamiliar with SFC Smith or the role the tower played in the events of that day, visit http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/smith/ and click on Battlescape to see an animation of the firefight.
As of November 2010, this is what The Tower looks like…

[rubberneck]

That's really cool. Thank you for sharing that.

[chadbag]

That's really cool. Thank you for sharing that.

+100

RIP SFC Smith!

[C-grunt]

I remember that but never got the full story. We were in another part of Baghdad at the time playing run away from the incomming artillery!

Thanks for the link. God bless the 3rd ID.

[Rmplstlskn]

Thanks for that...

Rmpl

[GermanSynergy]

Thanks for sharing.

[SeriousStudent]

I still remember watching the ceremony on TV, with the President and SFC Smith's family.

IN - thank you for posting the pictures, it's very important that we remember our heroes after they have fallen.

[BVickery]

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

RIP good sir. I may not have been able to have met you, but do know my world is safer and a better place because of you.

[Bolt_Overide]

thanks for posting that, Id never actually seen pictures of the site before.

[ryanm]

I've worked out once or twice per day in the Paul R. Smith gym for the last 3 years (before we had the "man warehouse turned into a gym, it was a tent which is now the chapel). I don't know how many times I've read his medal of honor. I stopped by Arlington last Memorial day to pay my respects as well. (very hard to find! he wasn't listed correctly in the registry!)