SFC Paul Ray Smith "A Tribute to an American Hero"

We watch the news stories about corrupt cops, athletes that inject steroids and crooked politicians. My heroes dont play professional sports nor are they elected political officials; they are standing in front of me today. They are Americas finest men and women honorably servingtheir country and most certainly, Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith is one of my heroes. Originally from El Paso Texas, Paul Smith was raised in Tampa, Florida. He was one of three children raised solely by his mother. She worked two jobs to support the family and provided an honest living. Paul enjoyed sports, liked cats, skateboarding, riding bicycles, and playing pranks with friends and his younger sister Lisa. He liked to play football and compared it with teamwork in the military. Paul was neither much of an athlete nor student in high school. He studied woodworking and upon graduation at Tampa Bay Technical High School, he lived from paycheck to paycheck as a carpenter.