'She Was Fighting to the Death'

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-04-03 01:36am

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar ... 3Apr2.html

'She Was Fighting to the Death'
Details Emerging of W. Va. Soldier's Capture and Rescue

By Susan Schmidt and Vernon Loeb
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, April 3, 2003; Page A01

Pfc. Jessica Lynch, rescued Tuesday from an Iraqi hospital, fought fiercely and shot several enemy soldiers after Iraqi forces ambushed the Army's 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company, firing her weapon until she ran out of ammunition, U.S. officials said yesterday.

Lynch, a 19-year-old supply clerk, continued firing at the Iraqis even after she sustained multiple gunshot wounds and watched several other soldiers in her unit die around her in fighting March 23, one official said. The ambush took place after a 507th convoy, supporting the advancing 3rd Infantry Division, took a wrong turn near the southern city of Nasiriyah.

"She was fighting to the death," the official said. "She did not want to be taken alive."

Lynch was also stabbed when Iraqi forces closed in on her position, the official said, noting that initial intelligence reports indicated that she had been stabbed to death. No official gave any indication yesterday, however, that Lynch's wounds had been life-threatening.

Several officials cautioned that the precise sequence of events is still being determined, and that further information will emerge as Lynch is debriefed. Reports thus far are based on battlefield intelligence, they say, which comes from monitored communications and from Iraqi sources in Nasiriyah whose reliability has yet to be assessed. Pentagon officials said they had heard "rumors" of Lynch's heroics but had no confirmation.

There was no immediate indication whether Lynch's fellow soldiers killed in the ambush were among 11 bodies found by Special Operations forces who rescued Lynch at Saddam Hussein Hospital in Nasiriyah. U.S. officials said that at least some of the bodies are believed to be those of U.S. servicemen. Two of the bodies were found in the hospital's morgue, and nine were found in shallow graves on the grounds outside.

Seven soldiers from the 507th are still listed as missing in action following the ambush. Five others, four men and a woman, were taken captive after the attack. Video footage of the five has been shown on Iraqi television, along with grisly pictures of at least four soldiers killed in the battle.

Lynch, of Palestine, W.Va., arrived yesterday at a U.S. military hospital in Germany. She was in "stable" condition, with broken arms and a broken leg in addition to the gunshot and stab wounds, sources said. Other sources said both legs were broken, and one arm. Victoria Clarke, a Pentagon spokeswoman, gave no specifics of Lynch's condition, telling reporters only that she is "in good spirits and being treated for injuries."

But one military officer briefed on her condition said that while Lynch was conscious and able to communicate with the U.S. commandos who rescued her, "she was pretty messed up." Last night Lynch spoke by telephone with her parents, who said she was in good spirits, but hungry and in pain.

"Talk about spunk!" said Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), whom military officials had briefed on the rescue. "She just persevered. It takes that and a tremendous faith that your country is going to come and get you."

One Army official said that it could be some time before Lynch is reunited with her family, since experience with those taken prisoner since the Vietnam War indicates that soldiers held in captivity need time to "decompress" and reflect on their ordeal with the help of medical professionals.

"It's real important to have decompression time before they get back with their families to assure them that they served their country honorably," the official said. "She'll meet with Survival, Escape, Resistance and Evasion psychologists. These are medical experts in dealing with this type of things."

At Central Command headquarters in Qatar, Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks showed a brief night-vision video clip of commandos rushing Lynch, on a stretcher, to a Black Hawk helicopter. Later, television networks showed footage of her arriving in Germany.

One intriguing account of Lynch's captivity came from an unidentified Iraqi pharmacist at Saddam Hussein Hospital who told Sky News, a British network, that he had cared for her and heard her crying about wanting to be reunited with her family.

"She said every time, about wanting to go home," said the pharmacist, who was filmed at the hospital wearing a white medical coat over a black T-shirt. "She knew that the American Army and the British were on the other side of the [Euphrates] river in Nasiriyah city. . . . She said, 'Maybe this minute the American Army [will] come and get me.' " The only injuries the pharmacist said he was aware of were to Lynch's leg, but there was no way to evaluate his statement.

Lynch's rescue at midnight local time Tuesday was a classic Special Operations raid, with U.S. commandos in Black Hawk helicopters engaging Iraqi forces on their way in and out of the medical compound, defense officials said.

Acting on information from CIA operatives, they said, a Special Operations force of Navy SEALs, Army Rangers and Air Force combat controllers touched down in blacked-out conditions. An AC-130 gunship, able to fire 1,800 rounds a minute from its 25mm cannon, circled overhead, as did a reconnaissance aircraft providing video imagery of the operation as it unfolded.

"There was shooting going in, there was some shooting going out," said one military officer briefed on the operation. "It was not intensive. There was no shooting in the building, but it was hairy, because no one knew what to expect. When they got inside, I don't think there was any resistance. It was fairly abandoned."

Meanwhile, U.S. Marines advanced in Nasiriyah to divert whatever Iraqi forces might still have been in the area.

The officer said that Special Operations forces found what looked like a "prototype" Iraqi torture chamber in the hospital's basement, with batteries and metal prods.

Briefing reporters at Central Command headquarters, Brooks said the hospital apparently was being used as a military command post. Commandos whisked Lynch to the Black Hawk helicopter that had landed inside the hospital compound, he said, while others remained behind to clear the hospital.

The announcement of the raid was delayed for more than an hour yesterday because some U.S. troops had remained on the ground longer than anticipated, Brooks said. "We wanted to preserve the safety of the forces," he said.

Correspondent Alan Sipress in Qatar and staff writer Dana Priest contributed to this report.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2003-04-03 01:42am

Here in W.Va., everyone is more or less ecstatic about the news. It really was a great morale booster, and I expect anti-war sentiment in this state to bottom out.

I've also reflected that if there is the slightest indication of rape while she was imprisoned, a Redneck Advance Unit(A pickup, twelve rednecks, enough beer for all of them, and enough firearms for a unit three times their size) will be deployed to Iraq.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-04-03 01:45am

For what ever Grace's there are in the universe, I wish her luck and a health recovery from he recent plight. And Fucking A baby, give it too em like they want. All 30 of those 5.56 in center mass.

OK, that turned me on. I like hard core bitches.

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2003-04-03 01:46am

It's good to see that she put up a fight, following the Code of Conduct to the letter. Her fear of what the enemy would do to her sexually also likely played a large part in her willingness to fight.

Post by **Coyote** » 2003-04-03 02:52am

She displayed courage and hard-core fight for any soldier, regardless of gender. It is refreshing to know that even a slight-built girl from "soft, decadent" America is still the better of dozens of supposedly tough-guy uber-macho Iraqi craphounds.

Hoo-ah feelings aside, she is a credit to the US service. I hope she recovers quickly and gains more strength from this and continies to kick ass in all things.

Hell, send her after Osama.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-04-03 03:28am

Coyote wrote:She displayed courage and hard-core fight for any soldier, regardless of gender. It is refreshing to know that even a slight-built girl from "soft, decadent" America is still the better of dozens of supposedly tough-guy uber-macho Iraqi craphounds.

Nationalistic chest beating aside- she was the one who got captured, not the Iraqis

Hoo-ah feelings aside, she is a credit to the US service. I hope she recovers quickly and gains more strength from this and continies to kick ass in all things.

Hell, send her after Osama.

Not to be the fly in the ointment, but erm- how do we know that she fought to the death? Her fellows did, that is certain, because most of them are dead. She did her duty, and unfortinately got captured. It's not like she threw herself on a grenade.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-04-03 03:29am

That is one hard-core bitch. A true credit to her country, and an example to other soldiers.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-04-03 03:45am

I suspect we'll see her doing the talk-show circuit before too long

Post by **Edi** » 2003-04-03 03:52am

Undoubtedly. If there's a more photogenic real life story than an attractive female soldier who fights the war to the knife, so to speak, before her capture and is subsequently rescued after several days of imprisonment and (presumably) interrogation in a daring raid, I don't know what it is. I'd have a hard time coming up with one anyway. The media circus will be impressive

Have to admit, she's a tough girl, I hope she recovers swiftly and doesn't let the media parasites tear her apart afterwards.

Edi

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-04-03 04:54am

Darth Wong wrote:I suspect we'll see her doing the talk-show circuit before too long

First American war-heroine? Well, of modern times.....

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-04-03 07:18am

Darth Wong wrote:I suspect we'll see her doing the talk-show circuit before too long

Today on Oprah we`ll talk with Jessica Lynch.

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2003-04-03 07:51am

I TOLD you this had more potential as an action movie! Lifetime can kiss my hairy white ass! This goes BEYOND TNT. This is on par with... USA!! YEAH! How fitting!

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-04-03 09:06am

I'm tired of this media feeding frenzy about this supply clerk. It was daring, she might have been tortured, somehow we know that she fought to the death, real American hero, oh she's so cute blah blah blah- the HIGHLY choreographed announcement and video footage taken of the dramatic 'rescue' (see too big for breaking news thread).

It's very daring when you go into an abandoned Iraqi hospital with no resistance. No mention of the 17 US soldiers lost (8 killed, 9 missing) in the previous foolhardy rescue attempt they tried for other POWs- probably also so they could have a nice story and shamelessly embellish their achievement. What a waste of men- this is foolhardiness at its worst.

Kelly Antilles · Post by **Kelly Antilles** » 2003-04-03 09:12am

Once she gets home, she'll have a new car (donated by a local dealership), a trip to Hawaii (a place she's always wanted to go, paid for by donations), and the Govenor of WV is offering her a scholorship to UWV or any college of her choice.

Question is, if she recovers fully (no sustaining injuries that would prevent her from doing so), will she return to serve? Or, have they already given her a discharge?

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-04-03 09:17am

Vympel wrote:I'm tired of this media feeding frenzy about this supply clerk. It was daring, she might have been tortured, somehow we know that she fought to the death, real American hero, oh she's so cute blah blah blah- the HIGHLY choreographed announcement and video footage taken of the dramatic 'rescue' (see too big for breaking news thread).

It's very daring when you go into an abandoned Iraqi hospital with no resistance. No mention of the 17 US soldiers lost (8 killed, 9 missing) in the previous foolhardy rescue attempt they tried for other POWs- probably also so they could have a nice story and shamelessly embellish their achievement. What a waste of men- this is foolhardiness at its worst.

i disagree. i think it is a well thought out strategic element that does wonders for the maintaining of morale. if soldiers believe that everything possible will be done to ensure their rescue if they are taken prisoner, they will have a much higher degree of confidence. Sure, losing 9 soldiers to mount such an operation is a stunning loss from a tactical standpoint, but how many thousands of soldiers and marines will fight harder with the peace of mind that if needed and if at all possible, they will be rescued?

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-04-03 09:20am

Col. Crackpot wrote:
i disagree. i think it is a well thought out strategic element that does wonders for the maintaining of morale. if soldiers believe that everything possible will be done to ensure their rescue if they are taken prisoner, they will have a much higher degree of confidence. Sure, losing 9 soldiers to mount such an operation is a stunning loss from a tactical standpoint, but how many thousands of soldiers and marines will fight harder with the peace of mind that if needed and if at all possible, they will be rescued?

Can any soldier say he won't fight as hard because a rescue operation that has a very high chance of ending the lives of his comrades and putting yet more into captivitiy isn't gonna happen? I don't believe any soldier would expect his Army to mount a rescue operation in territory that is controlled by the enemy. This Lynch rescue was a PR stunt. It's far wiser and safer to wait to be liberated, while trying to escape as is every soldier's duty, than expecting valuable special forces and other operational assets to put themselves in harms way.

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2003-04-03 09:34am

Vympel wrote:Can any soldier say he won't fight as hard because a rescue operation that has a very high chance of ending the lives of his comrades and putting yet more into captivitiy isn't gonna happen? I don't believe any soldier would expect his Army to mount a rescue operation in territory that is controlled by the enemy. This Lynch rescue was a PR stunt. It's far wiser and safer to wait to be liberated, while trying to escape as is every soldier's duty, than expecting valuable special forces and other operational assets to put themselves in harms way.

Obviously you don't understand the value of comradeship between military. If a lone trooper in some shithole knows his buddies are out there looking for him, then surely his/her morale will be higher, he/she will be more capable to withstand capture conditions, or even torture. The morale value of knowing your comrades stand for you, will take care of you, is the most important factor on the battlefield.
People die in combat operations, it happens, they were doing their job, they knew what they were getting into, but the value of gaining a single soldier from the enemy is more rewarding.

PR stunt? Only as an afterthought, I wouldn't thrust any operations commmander that launched missions for the sake of PR.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2003-04-03 10:31am

If she fought as hard as she says she did, it's possible she wasn't tortured for cultural reasons. Especially if she was captured by a unit comprised of Sunni Arabs from the west-central regions of Iraq.

Companion Cube · Post by **Companion Cube** » 2003-04-03 10:39am

Has anyone made the 'Saving Private Lynch' comparison yet?

Post by **Coyote** » 2003-04-03 11:24am

Vympel wrote:Nationalistic chest beating aside- she was the one who got captured, not the Iraqis

Aw, ya wet blanket on my campfire... but then again, look at how many of 'em it took to do it. And she left no few of them as buzzard food as well.

Post by **Coyote** » 2003-04-03 11:27am

Vympel wrote:I'm tired of this media feeding frenzy about this supply clerk. It was daring...

Vympel, I'm surprised at you-- you of all people here should be educated enough to know that it is very, very rare for a POW to be rescued during wartime. And that even though POW rescue raids frequently fail, many Western armies continue to attempt them because it gives tremendous morale to our soldier to know that they are not going to be forgotten or abandoned.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-04-03 11:29am

3rd Impact wrote:Has anyone made the 'Saving Private Lynch' comparison yet?

NBC News already did. They had a segment with that title last night.

Kelly Antilles · Post by **Kelly Antilles** » 2003-04-03 11:55am

Col. Crackpot wrote:
3rd Impact wrote:Has anyone made the 'Saving Private Lynch' comparison yet?
NBC News already did. They had a segment with that title last night.

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

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-04-03 12:01pm

Kelly Antilles wrote:
Col. Crackpot wrote:
3rd Impact wrote:Has anyone made the 'Saving Private Lynch' comparison yet?
NBC News already did. They had a segment with that title last night.
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"

Ted · Post by **Ted** » 2003-04-03 12:16pm

Montcalm wrote:
Kelly Antilles wrote: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.

I heard on TV last night that some of the gunshot wounds came during the rescue attempt.

And also, mounting a resuc raid is a stupid blunder, tactially, if it failed, you would loose troops, vehicles, aircraft, while if it succeeds, they'd waste ammo, supplies, and in the case of Lynch, destabilise her wounds and possibly get her killed by that.