'She Was Fighting to the Death'

[Coyote]

I don't believe so. In the hands of the Iraqis, who are probably going to torture you and kill you, I'd prefer the risk of a rescue raid. The POWs may or may not die in the rescue, but they will definitely die if left with Saddam's thugs.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

I don't believe so. In the hands of the Iraqis, who are probably going to torture you and kill you, I'd prefer the risk of a rescue raid. The POWs may or may not die in the rescue, but they will definitely die if left with Saddam's thugs.

Maybe. She might have survived as she did without torture because of her fight before being captured. Those sorts of things can garner respect from individuals among the Arabs. Remember Saladin's gesture to Richard at Jaffa?

[Coyote]

Not for a "mere woman" who should have been at home cooking and cleaning...

[Wicked Pilot]

Just remember that Pfc. Jessica Lynch will be nothing more than a footnote of this war. She is safe now, her ordeal is over. There are still at least seven others still being held out there, they are the ones deserving our attention. It is their families, and the families of the confirmed killed, who need the support of the nation.

[Queeb Salaron]

Oh joy. Way to go boosting Spielberg and Hanks egos.

It could have been more obvious,they could have titled the story,"Saving Lynch`s private"

Now thats becoming like QS there.

Hey! I apologized for that!

[Illuminatus Primus]

I'm sorry, man, but deeds last awhile. You'll have to post it off, not apologize and expect it to just be forgotten.

[Coyote]

Whether we like it or not, "Combat Jessie" is our first individual, named soldier to emerge as a hero in this war. Can anyone think of any other "ordinary grunt" heroes whose names we know from this ordeal? Probably not.

And her story is indeed compelling-- a small girl, cute and in a VERY non-combat position, ends up in a tooth-and-nail fight to the death with a horde of Iraqis notorious for ill treatment of prisoners. Not only does she take a bunch of them out but she survives capture AND even more rarely, a POW rescue effort.

She appears to have been tortured, endured great physical and psychological stress, and to be the only survivor of her group who seem to have been executed.

This would be an amazing story for ANY soldier, the fact that it was a charming young woman will only make it more impressionable to the public's mind. Unless some better candidate comes along later, facing equal or worse odds, she will be this war's "Audie Murphy".

Expect a medal, perhaps even a CMoH, and a ticker-tape welcome home parade. Media coverage and movie or book rights. Without more public interviews there is no way to tell how smart or savvy she is, her telegenic personality or other qualities, but if she is a smart and engaging speaker both political parties will try to recruit her.

If she is really on the ball, she may end up going into politics a la John McCain. This is long-term projection. There is also the real possibility that she will shun the spotlight and wish to be left alone, and eventually fade form public spectacle but occassionally remembered with a sort of odd reverence-- rather like Neil Armstrong.

We'll have to wait and see, but in the meantime it cannot be denied thather story is compelling.

[Queeb Salaron]

Whether we like it or not, "Combat Jessie" is our first individual, named soldier to emerge as a hero in this war. Can anyone think of any other "ordinary grunt" heroes whose names we know from this ordeal? Probably not.

Sounds like a bid for an action figure to me.

G.I. Jessie, anyone?

[Edi]

Queeb, would you just please shut the fuck up? You're an annoying twit, and given what you have said about the issue of Jessica Lynch previously, I don't think there is anyone here who is particularly inclined to watch you spew more inane bullshit. Now sod off and shut up!

Edi

[The Yosemite Bear]

Seconded!!!

Begone foul vermine before I decide to destroy you.

[Dargos]

She was NOT shot nor was she stabed. I have no idea where the report came from that she was shot or stabed.. most likely a reporter jumping the gun.

She has broken legs and a back injury. Most likely when ambushed her Deuce and a half had an accident or role over causeing these injurys.
That is only my speculation, of course, but her injurys sound like typical "roll over" type injurys.

[Dargos]

PS.. most likely she will recieve ONLY the PH and the POW ribbon. Highest award I see her getting is perhaps a BS without V device. But of course noone has the full story on what exactly happend in the ambush....yet.

[Warspite]

From CNN:

PALESTINE, West Virginia (CNN) -- Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, rescued early Wednesday from an Iraqi hospital where she was being held prisoner, underwent a successful surgery Thursday on a fractured disc in her back at a hospital in Germany, her parents said.

"They have released the pressure on a nerve and realigned all the discs and put plates and stuff in it; that was because she didn't have any feeling in her feet," said her father, Greg Lynch Sr., from his home.

Lynch said that despite reports to the contrary, his daughter's doctors told him they found no evidence of gunshot wounds or stab wounds.

"There is no injury whatsoever," he said, adding he did not know how both her legs and her right forearm were broken.

Jessica's mother, Deadra, said the family spoke to Jessica before and after her surgery.

"She just sounded real good, a little groggy this morning," she said.

Greg Lynch Sr. said Jessica will have surgery Friday on her arm and legs.

"We know she's in good spirits because they told her they were going to put pink casts on her arms and legs," he said, recalling that she also had a pink cast for a fracture when she was in third grade.

Jessica's parents said their daughter did not talk about her captivity in their brief phone conversations.

The 19-year-old Army supply clerk was recuperating at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, where she was listed in stable condition.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Sounds about right, Unfortuanatly I can reconstruct events very vividly from what little I know, with a high degree of accuracy....

I first found out how vivid and accurate my forensic deduction skills were when I worked as a college reporter "Trolling" accident scenes. If it weren't for my physical mess ups, I would have wound up in either Air Force or Navy intellegence.

Now, it's at the "Gives me nightmares" stage.

I don't know were reading too many detective novels and "overactive imagination" left off, and my instinct took over.

[Sam Or I]

Personally I do not think she deserves the Congressional Medal of Honor, even in the face of this media blitz. Yes maybe the Bronze Star. Granted we do not have the full story, but it does not sound like she made a heroic sacrifices required. Listen to the following and see if Lynch Stacks up:

Airman First Class Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extreme valor on 11 April 1966 near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam, while assigned as a Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. On that date, Airman Pitsenbarger was aboard a rescue helicopter responding to a call for evacuation of casualties incurred in an on-going firefight between elements of the United States Army's 1st Infantry Division and a sizable enemy force approximately 35 miles east of Saigon. With complete disregard for personal safety, Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to ride a hoist more than one hundred feet through the jungle, to the ground. On the ground, he organized and coordinated rescue efforts, cared for the wounded, prepared casualties for evacuation, and insured that the recovery operation continued in a smooth and orderly fashion. Through his personal efforts, the evacuation of the wounded was greatly expedited. As each of the nine casualties evacuated that day were recovered, Pitsenbarger refused evacuation in order to get one more wounded soldier to safety. After several pick-ups, one of the two rescue helicopters involved in the evacuation was struck by heavy enemy ground fire and was forced to leave the scene for an emergency landing. Airman Pitsenbarger stayed behind, on the ground, to perform medical duties. Shortly thereafter, the area came under sniper and mortar fire. During a subsequent attempt to evacuate the site, American forces came under heavy assault by a large Viet Cong force. When the enemy launched the assault, the evacuation was called off and Airman Pitsenbarger took up arms with the besieged infantrymen. He courageously resisted the enemy, braving intense gunfire to gather and distribute vital ammunition to American defenders. As the battle raged on, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to care for the wounded, pull them out of the line of fire, and return fire whenever he could, during which time, he was wounded three times. Despite his wounds, he valiantly fought on, simultaneously treating as many wounded as possible. In the vicious fighting which followed, the American forces suffered 80 percent casualties as their perimeter was breached, and airman Pitsenbarger was finally fatally wounded. Airman Pitsenbarger exposed himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground, and perished while saving the lives of wounded infantrymen. His bravery and determination exemplify the highest professional standards and traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Air Force.



SERGEANT FIRST CLASS RANDALL D. SHUGHART, UNITED STATES ARMY, U. S. Army Special Operations Command, distinguished himself on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member attached to TASK FORCE RANGER in Mogadishu, Somalia. Sergeant Shughart provided precision sniper fires from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. While providing critical suppressive fires at the second crash site, Sergeant Shughart and his team leader learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. Sergeant Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After their third request to be inserted, he and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Sergeant Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol and while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, they fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Sergeant Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Sergeant Shughart used his long-range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while moving around the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Sergeant Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot’s life.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 14 March 1969 while serving as a SEAL Team Leader during action against enemy aggressor (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. Acting in response to reliable intelligence, Lieutenant (JG) Kerrey lead his SEAL Team on a mission to capture important members of the enemy's area political cadre known to be located on an island in the bay of Nha Trang. In order to surprise the enemy, he and his team scaled a 350-foot sheer cliff to place themselves above the ledge on which the enemy was located. Splitting his team in two elements and coordinating both, Lieutenant (JG) Kerrey led his men in the treacherous downward descent to the enemy's camp. Just as they neared the end of their descent, intense enemy fire was directed at them, and Lieutenant (JG) Kerrey received massive injuries from a grenade which exploded at his feet and threw him backward onto the jagged rocks. Although bleeding profusely and suffering great pain, he displayed outstanding courage and presence of mind in immediately directing his element's fire into the heart of the enemy camp. Utilizing his radioman, Lieutenant (JG) Kerrey called in the second element's fire support which caught the confused Viet Cong in a devastating cross fire. After successfully suppressing the enemy's fire, and although immobilized by his multiple wounds, he continued to maintain calm, superlative control as he ordered his team to secure and defend an extraction site. Lieutenant (JG) Kerrey resolutely directed his men, despite his near-unconscious state, until he was eventually evacuated by helicopter. The havoc brought to the enemy by this very successful mission cannot be overestimated. The enemy who were captured provided critical intelligence to the allied effort. Lieutenant (JG) Kerrey's courageous and inspiring leadership, valiant fighting spirit, and tenacious devotion to duty in the face of almost overwhelming opposition, sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

[Coyote]

I, personally, am not saying that she should have the CMoH or deserved it, I'm recognizing that some people may put her in for one considering the circumstances and the media sensation this has caused. It was good news and a morale boost for many, something needed in this war.

Plus, numerous activists will see this as a chance for the first female to be given such a distinction-- considering that females are exempt from combat duty there is little opportunity for the kind of heroism displayed by the other examples provided.

My personal feeling is that she deserves recognition but I agree that a CMoH would be too much.

[Zoink]

Isn't fighting to you run out of ammo pretty standard? I don't mean to belittle what Lynch went through, but isn't this the minimum you would expect from a solider? My great uncle had the same thing happen, his unit got surrounded by Germans, they fought until they had no ammo, and then surrendered.

[Darth Wong]

Turns out this whole story is bullshit. According to her parents, she has neither stab or gunshot wounds. And in fact, her injuries are consistent with a vehicle crash rather than combat.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/2003/April/04/LNspot.htm

PS. What the fuck has happened to journalism? Is it just me, or have journalistic standards gone into the toilet? So much of what we're hearing ends up being half-truths or even total fabrications lately.

[The Yosemite Bear]

It was part of the reason I dropped out of College. I was taking Journelism, I was involved with a disintergrating relationship and my biggest problem was what I was seeing in the real world was not matching what I was seeing in my ethics classes. I would turn in ballenced reports trying to find things from all sides. My editors would say I lacked punch, and he would add quotes, take things out of context, and would rape my carefully ballenced work.

I really did not want to be in such a profession anymore. I find few people more disappointed with the antics of the "4th Estate" then myself.

[Queeb Salaron]

PS. What the fuck has happened to journalism? Is it just me, or have journalistic standards gone into the toilet? So much of what we're hearing ends up being half-truths or even total fabrications lately.

I don't know if it's all journalism or just war-time journalism. I mean, I can remember a few articles in the Boston Globe and the Metro that were remarkably well-balanced concerning prominent political issues prior to Sept. 11th. After that, though, it's gone down the shitter, what with claims of every minor evil having a tie to terrorism.

Sometimes I think it's like everyone wants to play "6 degrees to Osama Bin Laden."