Mom says killed son mistaken for Lynch in Iraq (Sgt. Walters was the true hero)

The Herald-Dispatch ^ | Saturday, July 12, 2003 | BOB WITHERS

[Destro]

HUNTINGTON -- A Salem, Ore., mother believes her slain 33-year-old son, a U.S. Army sergeant serving in Iraq, was mistaken for Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch during the ambush in which she was injured.

The Washington Post initially reported Lynch, a Palestine, W.Va. native, emptied two pistols during a fierce gun battle with Iraqi fighters on March 23 and was shot and stabbed before she was captured.

[Destro]

Sgt. Walters was awarded the same Bronze Star, posthumously for fighting and according to abcNews killing many of his attacker that Jessica Lynch received for sitting in the Humvee when it got hit. The honor and glory belong to Walters.

Lynch Receives Bronze Star Before Homecoming (What for?!!)

[Cyber Liberty]

It's better than that: The soldier that crashed the humvee and caused Lynch's injuries now has a mountain and a highway named after her in Arizona.

[Prodigal Son]

I'm glad you posted this. The article clearly says it is the fault of the Washington Post.

[VOA]

It may take time, but it'll all come out eventually.
And we can't blame Lynch for getting awards...if she truly can't recollect
events, how can she know if she does (or does not) actually merit the awards
her superiors have given to her.

For now, I'll leave it to Dubya, Rumsfeld, and down the chain. And just be happy
for every one of our people who come home in one piece.
And any inequities will work themselves out in time.

[roderick]

C'mon, she's a warrior babe and therefore deserves every honor that abusive, patriarchal . . . men get. (sarcasm)

[Prodigal Son]

BTW, Destro. Do you have a problem with allowing the Army to award its medals the way it sees fit or are you demanding that all citations come past your desk first?

[Destro]

I can demand that? F'ing A!

[Prodigal Son]

You're upset because your own bronze star is denigrated by PFC Lynch receiving one?

[Destro]

Off topic

[Prodigal Son]

Not off topic at all. This is not the only thread you have posted denigrating the award that PFC Lynch has received. It is natural to wonder why you are so upset.

[sam_paine]

Ah. But it is more natural to ignore the denigrator - Confuscious. Maybe.

[Destro]

Because I don't like manipulation of the truth. You may like reality packaged like a Lifetime movie but I don't. Also I only posted 2 total articles on the Bronze Star in regard to Lynch. This and the linked one.

What vested interest makes you want to perpetuate the Lynch myth?

[Hazzardgate]

you are a DUmmy

[Prodigal Son]

What vested interest makes you want to perpetuate the Lynch myth?

I didn't realize there was one.

What, in particular, are you saying is wrong with the Army's decision to award this soldier an award? You obviously have strong ideas about this- let's hear it.

[John H K]

According to ABC it was military translators listening to radio transmissions from the Iraqis that confused Arabic male and female pronouns (they sound the same and easy to do over the radio) regarding a soldier who fought and was stabbed and shot.

The WP was digging around and apparently got this info and reported it.

[Destro]

You are right. We should award medals based on feelings and emotions and actual deeds and words no longer matter.

[Destro]

fyi

[Prodigal Son]

We should award medals based on feelings and emotions and actual deeds and words no longer matter.

And I said this when?

Hey, Destro. I said this when?

[joesnuffy]

I'm pretty sure Pvt. Lynch got a bronze star and Sgt. Walters got the bronze star with combat "V" device...these two awards are far apart...

IMO based on the stories so far Sgt. Walters probably deserved a Silver Star minimum
Regardless the Combat "V" device is what counts....Ive got a shipload of bronze stars imo they are meaningless...I have one medal with a "V" that I'm semi-proud of but my CIB n CMB are most valuable to me...even more so than a bunch of AirMedals I got just for riding to and from LZs the Armor guys should get APC awards or truck awards or Humvee awards...

Mostly if an officer didnt see it...it didnt happen anyway...I have seen lots of brave acts in combat go unrewarded by the system....imo it was always more politics than anything else anyway...

But SGT Walters was a real hero imo...

And thats all I have to say about that.