Released April 4, 2005

HATTIESBURG – Retired Maj. Gen. Buford Blount, a distinguished visiting lecturer at The University of Southern Mississippi, traveled to Washington, D.C., April 4 to attend a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House for fallen soldier Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith.

A native of Florida, Smith was a soldier under Blount’s command in the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division.

Until his retirement, Blount served as the Army’s Deputy G3 (Plans and Operations). Previously, he was commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), at Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. Blount, a Southern Miss alumnus, gave up command of the 3rd Infantry Division after bringing it home from Iraq, where it was the lead force in defeating the Iraqi army and capturing Baghdad.

The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest medal for valor in combat that can be awarded to members of the armed forces. It is sometimes referred to as the “Congressional Medal of Honor” because the president awards it on behalf of Congress. Smith, whose family will accept the award from President George W. Bush, is the first recipient of the Medal of Honor from the Iraq War.

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