Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Sandman on January 29, 2004, 09:23:45 AM

Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Sandman on January 29, 2004, 09:23:45 AM: Sgt. Paul Smith (http://www.sptimes.com/2004/webspecials04/medalofhonor/)
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: gofaster on January 29, 2004, 09:29:44 AM: The St. Petersburg Times wins awards for journalism, and this story is an example of why. Their specials are very well done. Mark Bowden's special feature for the Philadelphia newspaper became "Black Hawk Down". I wouldn't be surprised if this story eventually went the same way.
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Makarov9 on January 29, 2004, 10:26:04 AM
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Bodhi on January 29, 2004, 10:36:50 AM: ~~Sgt Smith~~
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: 2Slow on January 29, 2004, 11:50:39 AM: Damn shame he has not been awarded the CMO. I intend to write a letter to the President asking him to look into this.
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Curval on January 29, 2004, 11:52:24 AM: What a story. RIP Sgt. Smith.
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: SunTracker on January 29, 2004, 11:56:03 AM: Anyone notice the similarities here between Smith and Audie Murphy?
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Hawklore on January 29, 2004, 12:57:29 PM
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Sabre on January 29, 2004, 01:11:59 PM
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Ripsnort on January 29, 2004, 03:21:47 PM: The ultimate sacrifice.
Thanks for bringing that to our attention, sandman.
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Pooh21 on January 29, 2004, 03:59:14 PM: S!
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: mrblack on January 29, 2004, 04:02:35 PM: A true Hero In every sense of the word.
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Munkii on January 29, 2004, 04:21:55 PM: Some of us may not agree with this war, but we all can agree it has its heros, and this man is one of the bravest to have fought there.

A sincere and whole hearted from me.

edit: spelling mistakes
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: mrblack on January 29, 2004, 06:09:17 PM: bump
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Bodhi on January 29, 2004, 06:46:05 PM: Quote
Originally posted by SunTracker
Anyone notice the similarities here between Smith and Audie Murphy?

Audie Murphy survived the war...
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: 212 on January 29, 2004, 07:03:45 PM: Rest in Piece :(
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Maverick on January 29, 2004, 08:25:34 PM: This man is proof that there are still those in younger generations that value duty, honor and country. The world is a better place for having had him here. It is a lesser place for having lost him. May he rest in peace for we can attatch no more glory to him than that which he displayed in his valor.

~~Sgt Smith.~~
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: MrCoffee on January 29, 2004, 10:38:59 PM: Salute and rest in peace.

:(
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: mrblack on January 30, 2004, 02:22:59 AM: Quote
Originally posted by Maverick
This man is proof that there are still those in younger generations that value duty, honor and country. The world is a better place for having had him here. It is a lesser place for having lost him. May he rest in peace for we can attatch no more glory to him than that which he displayed in his valor.

~~Sgt Smith.~~

Dang Mav you write that!
It was really nice:aok
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: midnight Target on January 30, 2004, 08:33:43 AM: Great story. Hope he gets the MoH.
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: gofaster on January 30, 2004, 01:11:56 PM: Quote
In late August, while researching Smith's story, a St. Petersburg Times reporter tracked down the Bradley commander. He is Sgt. Michael Wilkins, a 13-year Army veteran from Westchester County outside New York City.

Wilkins said that after his Bradley pushed through the gate, he saw a group of Iraqis in the distance.

"They were charging toward the wall, shooting," he said. Wilkins fired his 25mm cannon and a light machine gun.

"I just started laying them down," he said. "I could have killed at least 25 guys, minimum."

Then a red "low ammo" light flashed on his console. Wilkins knew he needed to go to a safe location, since reloading a Bradley requires the crew to be outside the vehicle and the cannon to be tipped upward.

"With my gun in the air, I couldn't engage anything," Wilkins said. "It seemed like a good time to leave."

I can't blame Wilkins for backing out of the battle. At the point, he was useless except as cannon fodder. If anyone is to be blamed, it should be the design team of the Bradley that failed to realize the importance of enabling an armoured vehicle to be reloaded while under attack.

Hopefully this lesson won't go to waste.
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: RedDg on January 30, 2004, 01:54:00 PM: ~~What a story.~~
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: slimm50 on January 30, 2004, 03:00:25 PM: ~~Sgt. Smith~~
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: GtoRA2 on January 30, 2004, 03:08:08 PM: Sgt Smith...

RIP
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Sandman on March 30, 2005, 12:33:41 PM: On Monday, President Bush will present the Medal Of Honor to Sgt. Smith's family.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/30/earlyshow/main683939.shtml
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: g00b on March 30, 2005, 02:02:24 PM: Listing of Medal of Honor recipients. And their stories.

Truly tear jerking.

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/Moh1.htm

g00b
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: AWMac on March 30, 2005, 04:30:05 PM: ~~SFC Smith~~
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Dnil on March 30, 2005, 05:52:02 PM: did anyone read some of the indian war citations? seems they handed out the medal like it was candy.

back on topic, salute to SFC Smith.
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: rabbidrabbit on March 30, 2005, 05:59:02 PM: Quote
Originally posted by gofaster
I can't blame Wilkins for backing out of the battle. At the point, he was useless except as cannon fodder. If anyone is to be blamed, it should be the design team of the Bradley that failed to realize the importance of enabling an armoured vehicle to be reloaded while under attack.

Hopefully this lesson won't go to waste.

Actually, you can reload the 25mm and 7.62 mm ammo from inside the vehicle. You just can't engage targets with the 25mm while doing so... So either fall back on the 7.62 mm coax or back off and reload.
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Otto on March 30, 2005, 08:59:49 PM: I Pray his Sacrifice was not in vain.

Sergeant Smith... and Thank You.

Rest in Peace.
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: wombatt on March 30, 2005, 11:27:31 PM: http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=146833
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: Sandman on March 31, 2005, 08:33:51 AM: Quote
Originally posted by wombatt
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=146833

You're fourteen months late on this story. ;) Check the link at the top. The SP Times did an excellent job telling this story.
Title: The Last Full Measure of Devotion
Post by: majic on March 31, 2005, 09:02:22 AM: It truly is a small world. Sgt. Hollinsaid, who was chosen to replace Sgt. Smith was my friend. He was killed in action a few days after Smith.