Greater Love

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, March 30, 2005) -- The White House announced March 29 that President George W. Bush will honor Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith by presenting his family the Medal of Honor on April 4, the second anniversary of his courageous actions during the Battle of Baghdad Airport. Smith is the first to receive the militarys highest award for actions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In action near the Baghdad Airport on April 4, 2003, Smith, a Soldier in Company B, 11th Engineer Battalion, working with units of the 3rd Infantry Division, was tasked to build a compound to hold enemy prisoners, when his small force came under attack by more than 100 enemies.Smith threw two grenades and fired rocket launchers at the enemy before manning a .50-caliber machine gun on an M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier to protect his troops. While engaging an enemy attacking from three sides, Smith fired more than 300 rounds from the machinegun before being killed.He prevented the enemy from overtaking his units position, protected his Task Forces flank, and defended the lives of more than 100 Soldiers, according to his award citation.Smith was serving as a platoon sergeant in Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, Task Force 2-7, 3rd Infantry Division. He had been serving in the Army since October 1989.(http://www.medalofhonor.com/)

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:9-13

I have had conversations with people about the, seemingly, unnatural acts of courage and disregard for personal safety displayed by individuals like Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith. As a man, I look at what Sgt. Smith did in the midst of facing insermountable odds and all I can be is humbled. Many of us would like to believe we would do the same if we were in a similar situation. We are drawn to movies and video games where the hero has to overcome an impossible situation in order to achieve a certain goal. We live vicariously through action heroes like Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chuck Norris. But the fact is, none of us know how we would react if faced with the same circumstances as Sgt. Smith. I would guess that since there is an award given to men like Sgt. Smith, his actions are not too commonplace. I don't say this to disrespect those fighting men and women throughout history. Only to point out the unique actions of those that throw caution to the wind, risking life and limb, in order to protect those they love and achieve a desired outcome.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17

When someone loses their life in order that others may live, they, rightfully, are given a place of honor. When you put the deeds of people like Sgt. Smith, and others like him, up against the actions of Jesus Christ you start to discover the magnitude of what Christ did for us. Sgt. Smith, obviously loved the fellow members of Company B and was dedicated to his part in the mission to set the Iraqi people free from the bondage and tyranny they endured under Saddam Hussein. This motivated him to sacrifice his life. Regardless of what you may feel about the role of the United States in the Iraq War, you have to acknowledge that we are there to do for the Iraqi people what they cannot do for themselves. This is the exact motivation God had when He came to this world in the Person of Jesus Christ. God loved us so much that He did for us, in Christ, that which we could not do for ourselves. He wanted to set us free from the bondage and isolation we were in as a consequence of our sin. There is no doubt that Sgt. Smith was somebody's son. His parents had to have known of the potential that they might lose their son to the ravages of war when he signed up for military duty. God, on the other hand, made a conscious decision to send Jesus to die for our sins. In both cases, we see the best example of what love is; sacrifice.

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:15-16

There have been Medal of Honor recipients in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Iraq War. In each of these wars, a central theme was freedom. African slaves were set free because of the Civil War. A vast majority of Europe and the world was spared the agression of countries like Germany and Japan during World Wars I and II. And we must not forget that many died to free the Jews from the Holocaust! To this day, South Korea remains free after North Korea was turned back during the Korean War. Many lives were lost during the Vietnam War to keep South Vietnam free from the aggression of communist North Vietnam. And we have already discussed the sacrifice of soldiers like Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith during the current Iraq War. All of these examples serve as a reminder that freedom is not free. And for those of us who have freedom it is our duty to share the freedom we have enjoyed with those who do not have that luxury. And sometimes that act requires the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus Christ died to set us free and we, in turn, share what we have received with those who do not have a relationship with Him. Given the price He paid to set us free from our sins, so that we can have a saving relationship with our God, it is the least we can do, in His honor, to tell others about His sacrificial act of love. Tomorrow is Veteran's Day. I encourage you to fly an American flag, visit with a veteran of the United States military, place flowers on the grave of one of our fallen heroes, or do whatever comes to mind to honor those who died to preserve our freedom and purchase the freedom of others. After all, it is the least we can do.