US President George W. Bush awarded on Monday the first Medal of Honor for the Iraq war to fallen Army soldier Paul Ray Smith, two years after his death in April 2003.

Bush presented the medal, the highest US military honor for valor, to Smith's widow, Birgit, and their son, David, at a ceremony at the White House. This was the first Medal of Honor awarded for the Iraq war, and the third since the Vietnam War.

Smith, 33, was credited with protecting the lives of dozens of lightly armed American soldiers in a battle on April 4, 2003, nearthe gates of Baghdad International Airport. He was mortally wounded in the battle.

Since the decoration was created in 1861, over 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded, with more than 600 given posthumously.

Source: Xinhua