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Building may be named for Iraq hero

A bill now before the Congress would make the Holiday post office the "Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith Post Office Building."

HOLIDAY - Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith's name already adorns an Army research building in Orlando and a street sign at MacDill Air Force Base. U.S. Rep. Mike Bilirakis wants to bring his memory closer to home.

Stirred by the fallen soldier's actions in Iraq, Bilirakis has introduced a bill to rename the Holiday post office after him, placing a memorial in the community Smith's widow now calls her own.

"I'm overwhelmed by this honor. It means so much to me to know people are still thinking of him," Birgit Smith said Friday.

"Just the fact that he's been nominated for the Medal of Honor is reason enough to do this," Bilirakis said. "He's a true American hero."

Smith died April 4, 2003, while helping ward off 100 or more Iraqi soldiers from his band of about 16 Army combat engineers outside Saddam International Airport. As his men scrambled to safety, the 33-year-old Smith manned a .50-caliber machine gun atop an armored personnel carrier and started firing.

The men, three of whom were injured, made it out of the courtyard where they had been preparing a place to hold prisoners of war. But Smith, who grew up in Tampa's Palma Ceia neighborhood, was shot in the head and killed.

Smith's superiors say the valor he displayed is worthy of the military's highest award, the Medal of Honor. Though the vetting process is secret, the nomination is believed still to be under consideration.

"His story really struck me," Bilirakis said, speaking by telephone from Washington, where he was awaiting a vote on an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriation.

The Tarpon Springs Republican expects his bill, which is co-sponsored by the rest of the Florida Congressional delegation, will be voted on by July. Companion legislation should reach the Senate about the same time, he said.

Bilirakis wants to officially unveil the "Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith Post Office Building" in September. The building is located at 4737 Mile Stretch Drive, not far from the house Birgit Smith shares with her 17-year-old daughter Jessica and 10-year-old son David.

"Every day people who go by will know what their freedom means," said Smith's mother, Janice Pvirre, who lives in New Port Richey. "They are going to know he fought for them."

- Alex Leary can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6247, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6247. His e-mail address is leary@sptimes.com

To learn more about Paul Smith's story and see pictures of his family and the soldiers he fought with in Iraq, visit www.sptimes.com/paulsmith