POW's Johnson's Iraqi captors urged her to marry Iraqi

The Associated Press ^ | 02/13/04

[Catspaw]

"I'm a survivor, not a hero," Johnson told Essence magazine in its March issue. "The heroes are the soldiers who paid the ultimate price and the Marines who risked their lives to rescue us. ... They took a chance and because they did, I'm here."

I admire her humility, her strength and her courage to get through this ordeal, as I do for all of our returned POWs.

[hocndoc]

She sounds like a good woman and I'll bet she was an asset to her unit and uniform. I'm grateful to her for protecting me and my country.

I wonder how the decision is made between Bronze and Silver Stars, etc. (Am I correct that there's only a certain number given out, rather than them being awarded to everyone who meets a certain criteria?)

When we think about the POW in this war, it's important to remember how John Kerry responded to the POW's of Vietnam:


http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=37070
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/2/13/165004.shtml
http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=11940

From the last link:

"“Senator Kerry,” Nguyen continues, “was caught on camera making a promise to the North Vietnamese communists that he would ensure that they weren’t embarrassed by their concocted stories.”""

[jokar]

Call me old school but women shouldn't go to war.

[William McKinley]

Good lord, what is it with some people that they can't just celebrate one person without it being at the expense of another? Both did their duty and are home safely now. I thank both of them for their service, and consider them heros.

Even if I don't think women with children should be on the battlefield.

[Arpege92]

"Both did their duty and are home safely now. I thank both of them for their service....."

I agree on both counts, but I'd still like to know why Sister T believes that Miss Johnson is more deserving of praise and gratitude than Miss Lynch.

[dougherty]

Maybe because Johnson didn't cash in on her experience the way Lynch did? I don't know, I'm just guessing.

[Arpege92]

"Maybe because Johnson didn't cash in on her experience the way Lynch did?"

Miss Lynch didn't go looking for "cash in" opportunities, they came looking for her. She had no idea that so many Americans had taken such a strong interest in her.

Miss Lynch was a POW just like Miss Johnson was and I think Miss Lynch has done a remarkable job of giving credit where credit is due....just like Miss Johnson is doing. Miss Lynch has never considered herself to be a hero....she leaves that status to the soldiers who rescued her.

[yodi-lee]

I felt that the young pretty blonde Ms Lynch was thrust into the limelight from the beginning and resented it for all the soldiers who didn't get noticed or thanked. I have watched Ms Lynch try to distance herself and have put most of the blame on the media lemmings. I have repented of my harsh opinion of JL. I thank God that when I got orders to go to Kuwait (in Gulf War I) I ended up not having to go. I only hope I would have acted with the courage that she and Ms Johnson showed.

[Askel5]

It's not a matter of opinion -- you're exactly right that women, particularly mothers, have no business in combat zones. Mothers in Combat Boots

[Askel5]

CORRECT LINK

It's not a matter of opinion -- you're exactly right that women, particularly mothers, have no business in combat zones.

Mothers in Combat Boots

[jaykay]

"She's much more of a 'heroine' than Jessica Lynch!"

Why do you say that?

Because some people will jump at any opportunity to take potshots at Jessica Lynch.

[Prince Charles]

Hero bump...

[#3Fan]

When we think about the POW in this war, it's important to remember how John Kerry responded to the POW's of Vietnam:

Exactly! I can't believe Kerry's abandonment of of the POW-MIAs is not getting more play. Thanks to Kerry's lies, our soldiers died in captivity instead of being rescued!

[jaykay]

Maybe because Johnson didn't cash in on her experience the way Lynch did? I don't know, I'm just guessing.

You're guessing wrong. Johnson is in the process of closing book and movie deals. The only reason Lynch's book was out first was because Lynch was discharged first. Johnson began discussions as soon as she was discharged.

The 2 Apache pilots who were captured, CWOs David Williams and Ronald Young are also writing a book now that they have been discharged.

Nothing wrong with any of that, either. If there is a market for their stories, good for them. Retired General Tommy Franks has a book coming out as well and was recently on a national speaking tour. Forty bucks to hear him talk at the local Marriott when he came through Detroit last December. Capitalism is a wonderful thing, no?

[#3Fan]

I felt that the young pretty blonde Ms Lynch was thrust into the limelight from the beginning and resented it for all the soldiers who didn't get noticed or thanked. I have watched Ms Lynch try to distance herself and have put most of the blame on the media lemmings. I have repented of my harsh opinion of JL. I thank God that when I got orders to go to Kuwait (in Gulf War I) I ended up not having to go. I only hope I would have acted with the courage that she and Ms Johnson showed.

I think all who've been rescued in the manner Lynch was rescued get a lot of attention. Look at Anderson and O'Grady. The American people love it when a person who doesn't have much aof a chance for survival ends up being rescued, especially in a dramatic lone rescue. I think the "pretty blond" angle is overplayed. Anderson and O'Grady weren't pretty, and they've had books and movies written about them.

[#3Fan]

Hi, jaykay. I see in this article we have another wonderful example of the "excellent care" our POWs received. /sarcasm Johnson says they were knocking her around pretty good.

[#3Fan]

Nothing wrong with any of that, either. If there is a market for their stories, good for them. Retired General Tommy Franks has a book coming out as well and was recently on a national speaking tour. Forty bucks to hear him talk at the local Marriott when he came through Detroit last December. Capitalism is a wonderful thing, no?

I'm glad to see the good guys making a living and that people are actually interested in the stories of those who sacrifice for our country instead of focussing 100% on the trash that dominates the airwaves now.

[jaykay]

In Iraq under Saddam, "excellent care" meant that they didn't just shoot you on the spot.

[jaykay]

I agree. I hope they all have bestsellers. Better them than Michael Moore and Al Franken.

Did you see post #3? This article had nothing to do with Jessica Lynch, yet she is dragged in just to bash her.

[#3Fan]

In Iraq under Saddam, "excellent care" meant that they didn't just shoot you on the spot.

lol true.