Posted on 04/03/2003 9:36:04 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
PALESTINE, W.Va. - From her hospital bed in Germany, Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch wanted to know if the story of her capture in Iraq and her dramatic rescue made the local newspaper.
"She doesn't know what kind of uproar she's caused right now," her brother, Greg Lynch Jr., said Thursday morning as the family awaited a military briefing.
"She's definitely a hero," Greg Lynch said. "Whether she realizes it or not - not only to our family, but to the whole nation."
The 19-year-old Army supply clerk was undergoing surgery Thursday at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for a fractured disc, two broken legs and a broken arm.
Her brother said the family, which had heard from her twice since her rescue, expected to talk to her again following her surgery.
They also expected to learn details from two members from the Department of Defense's Joint Personnel Recovery Agency who arrived at the family's rural home near Palestine for a briefing expected to last several hours.
The family wants to know why Lynch's 507th Maintenance Company convoy made a wrong turn in southern Iraq on March 23. The group was ambushed, and seven in the group remained missing Thursday, five were listed as prisoners of war and two others were confirmed killed.
Family memberts also want to if her back and leg injuries will hamper her Army career.
In brief phone calls Wednesday night and Thursday, Lynch said she hadn't eaten in eight days but she was in good spirits, said her father, Gregory Lynch Sr.
She sounded better Thursday morning than she had on the first call, her mother said.
"She was more concerned about us, wanted to know how everybody was and what was going on. And I just let her know that she was America's hero," Deadra Lynch said on ABC's "Good Morning America."
The Washington Post reported that she shot several Iraqi soldiers during the March 23 ambush, and even when she suffered several gunshot wounds she kept firing until she ran out of ammunition.
"She's a fighter. That's exactly what I would expect her to do," her mother told NBC's "Today" show. But the family members stressed they had not discussed the ordeal with her.
"She never mentioned anything about gunshot wounds," said her brother. "I'm assuming if she does have gunshot wounds, they are where the bones are broken."
Pentagon officials have declined to comment on the report.
The family decided not to fly to Germany since Lynch is expected to be flown to the United States as soon as she is stabilized following surgery.
Members of the medical crew that accompanied Lynch on the flight to Germany from Kuwait said she appeared clear-headed, smiling and alert, but didn't discuss her captivity with them.
"She must be as hard as nails," said Air Force Capt. Shean Galvin.
He wouldn't comment on whether she had been shot, saying only that her injuries were not life-threatening and no vital organs had been hit.
News of her rescue late Tuesday spread quickly through Wirt County, population 5,893. Neighbors and friends cheered and honked car horns and shouted the good news to everyone they could see.
"A neighbor came running over, bursting in the front door crying, saying, 'They found her! They found her! She's safe!'" said Linda Williams, a teacher at Wirt County High School who taught both Jessica's parents and her two siblings.
"It was crazy," Williams said. "My phone was ringing and ringing and ringing."
To help Lynch reach her goal of becoming a kindergarten teacher, three colleges on Wednesday all offered her scholarships, and Gov. Bob Wise said the state would finance her education at a state public university of her choosing.
Lynch joined the Army after graduating in 2001. Her brother enlisted the same day, and their 18-year-old sister, Brandi, will report for duty in August.
"It's the Lynch blood," Brandi said.
I am really sickened by about 20% of the people in this country and especially their leaders in our congress. With people like Kerry mouthing off, it's no wonder the liberal public thinks so venomously.
You can't have too many Lynch's. They keep everything lined up and connected. They are hard as steel can be. They do not bend. Nothing comes loose when connected with a Lynchpin.
Corny, but this woman is symbolic of everything good and unselfish in this country. There are a lot more Lynch's out here in flyover country than the liberals think.
Do a search on FR...
Some of FR's "Seagull Brigade" (Fly in, make a lot of noise, crap all over everything, fly back out) have been spreading all manner of rumor about her. The worst of the bunch have been getting ZOTted for their trouble.
...and let God sort 'em out :o)
They support our troops providing they do not become heroic, accomplish their professional objective, survive being shot at, endure enemy torture, or smile with two broken legs?
"Damn that bitch for making Bush look competent and able" -The way our liberal enemies think!
I think deep down it's mostly from people who are deeply insecure about the notion that a 19 year old girl might be tougher and braver than they'll ever be.
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