If you buy Jessica Lynch's book, you could help the children of other soldiers.

WTAP ^ | 10/25/03 | Angela Hatcher

[milemark]

If you buy PFc Jessica Lynch's book when it comes out next month, you could help the children of other soldiers.

The former prisoner of war established a foundation to assist children of soldiers, particularly ones whose mother or father were killed while serving.

Lynch is doing this to honor the memory of her best friend PFc Lori Piestewa, who was killed when the 507th maintenance company was ambushed in March.

Piestewa was the mother of two small children.

Lynch's attorney, Stephen Goodwin, says the foundation will be funded with money from Lynch's forthcoming book and other revenue sources.

Goodwin says Lynch also hopes the foundation will help the Wirt County community.

[milemark]

Lynch Bashers: bash this. I'm sure you'll find a way.

[poet]

Are we Lynch bashers because we don't buy into the heroine BS. They perpetuated a lie and continue to do so.

Is being pinned under a truck a new definition of a hero/heroine?

One REAL hero is that young LT who orderd his men to point their weapons to the ground to assure an angry crowd the soldiers had no intention of destroying their Mosque. Of course, this was a guy and what the libs/feminists needed was a female heroine. The only problem is they forgot to include the doctors in their fabricated story of her being shot/knifed. Time to put this story to sleep. We have heroes dying every day in Iraq to whom we should give the honor of calling THEM heroes.

Flame away.

[Eagle Eye]

You still don't get it, do you?

I don't recall seeing much in the way of Lynch bashing as much as I saw one group swallow a fabricated story designed to give the media and folks back home a hero and another group that didn't believe the story and questioned the merits of the awards.

Not long ago I saw a major get a bronze star for his work as a contracting officer. He may have been better than soap on a rope, but gimme a break!

It ain't about the woman, it's about the fabrications to manufacture a hero.

I certainly hope she has a nice life because she's certainly earned it and gone through much that most will never imagine.

But this would all be a non story if it were "James" Lynch whose unit was lost, ambushed, wounded, captured and rescued.

[jaykay]

Not surprised about the foundation. something was mentioned about it in Publisher's Weekly when Lynch's book deal was first announced, but this article goes into more detail.

[Senator Goldwater]

I'm not a Lynch-basher. I think anyone, including her, who serves our country is heroic.

However, the comments I have heard from the staff at Walter Reed about this young soldier's countenance and manners does not square with the image portrayed in the media.

[jaykay]

I beleive the Lynch Bashers were opposed to her book deal, saying she had no right to profit from her experiences because other soldiers were killed in the ambush. As if she killed them or something! One need not be a hero to write a book. Wouldn't be very many books.

[jaykay]

Really? What have they said? Is there any published report?

[ChadGore]

Re: the heroine BS.

With due respect, she laid her body on the line for my country.

How can I not honor that?

[milemark]

I had a broken leg a couple of years ago. I was not pleasant to be around, even for my family, especially during physical therapy sessions. I wonder what these annonymous commentators, if they exist, would say about my countenance and demeanor. Or any of yours if you were in the same situation. I only had one fracture, Lynch had many and far more severe, with the bones protruding. Yes I wonder what the phantom commentators would say about me or any of you who were in that situation.

[Senator Goldwater]

I'm not casting anonymous aspersions on Pfc Lynch's heroism, courage or service to this nation.

But I have been told by staffers, including nurses who treated her, that she was reprimanded more than once for her conduct, untoward language and treatment of medical staff by officers. And I emphasize that this was in the normal course of her tenure at Walter Reed, not borne of treatment-related emotional outbursts. She was over-bearing and demanding, using caustic and demeaning language in the presence of staff, family and children.

One rehab nurse on her ward called her, and I make a direct quote: "nothing more than West Virginia white trash" given to "temper tantrums" when she didn't get her way.

I honor her service to her country, but I don't doubt the veracity of others who served this soldier, and found her personal demeanor insulting and unprofessional.

[milemark]

You reference no published reports and provide no names of those making these claims, so this is in fact a collection of annonymous aspersions. My own experience with an injury taught me a lot about how mentally exhausting it is to deal with constant, unrelenting pain, even when dulled somewhat by drugs. I have worked as a paramedic in a violent urban area (Detroit, MI) for 15 years and have seen the effect that painfull injury and traumatic experiences can have on even the most mentally tough police officers and firefighters. No one who is suffering from these effects would have any out-of-character outbursts held against them by hospital staff. In fact, I have found that hospital staffers, especially nurses, are very thick skinned and not given to being easily offended, and it's a good thing too. Plenty of cops and firemen have made red-faced apologies to their nurses at the little parties we throw them when they are released from the hospital. Those hospital workers would never talk about these things to outsiders. It would be extremely unprofessional. I don't know if you actually know people who work at WRAMC or have just corresponded online with people who say they work there, but the name calling and inflammatory language you have quoted lead me to beleive the latter. If such people as you describe do work at WRAMC, I feel very sorry for (former) PFC Lynch and all of their other unfortunate patients. Our war wounded soldiers deserve better than having judgement passed on them while they are in severe distress and being talked about behind their backs.

[Senator Goldwater]

Its not an aspersion, its an account of people close to the situation.

Ignore it if it conflicts with your precepts.

[jaykay]

I don't doubt the veracity of others who served this soldier, and found her personal demeanor insulting and unprofessional.

Personal demeanor insulting and unprofessional? This from someone who uses a phrase like "nothing more than West Virginia white trash" behind someone's back, without showing their face and giving their name? Making such ugly comments without giving any opportunity for Lynch to respond? This behavior is not only "insulting and unprofessional," it is craven and cowardly. These comments tell me all I need to know about the person making them and about the person repeating them, Senator.

[jaykay]

I don't know if you actually know people who work at WRAMC or have just corresponded online with people who say they work there, but the name calling and inflammatory language you have quoted lead me to beleive the latter. If such people as you describe do work at WRAMC, I feel very sorry for (former) PFC Lynch and all of their other unfortunate patients.

Good post, MM. The Senator's post is disgusting. I am very disappointed to see such filth on Free Republic. I had thought character assasination to be the specialty of the 'Rats. It appears we have our own vermin in our camp.

[#3Fan]

But I have been told by staffers, including nurses who treated her, that she was reprimanded more than once for her conduct, untoward language and treatment of medical staff by officers. And I emphasize that this was in the normal course of her tenure at Walter Reed, not borne of treatment-related emotional outbursts. She was over-bearing and demanding, using caustic and demeaning language in the presence of staff, family and children. One rehab nurse on her ward called her, and I make a direct quote: "nothing more than West Virginia white trash" given to "temper tantrums" when she didn't get her way. I honor her service to her country, but I don't doubt the veracity of others who served this soldier, and found her personal demeanor insulting and unprofessional.

You don't suppose she was on painkillers, do ya?

[#3Fan]

I'll never forget when I had hand surgery, I didn't take anesthetic because I didn't want to spend any more time in the hospital than was necessary and wanted to drive home after surgery. I was in the recovery room and one of the nurses came in and was talking to me about a couple of famous people I may be related to and I remember as the local anesthetic in my hand was quickly wearing off and I just wanted the nurse to get the hell out of there so I could suffer in private. lol I didn't say nothing though, I was as calm as I could be and spoke to him. That was just a hand, I can't imagine a whole body going through that.

[milemark]

Its not an aspersion, its an account of people close to the situation.

Ignore it if it conflicts with your precepts.

Not an aspersion? Look at your unfortunate choice of wording. People close to the situation? Maybe so, maybe not. No names, no direct quotes so no reason to beleive it is so. Real persons close to the situation who have gone on the record have given accounts which conflict with this annonymous hatchet job. The commander of Landstuhl regional Medical Center in Germany and Lynch's doctor, Lt. Col. Greg Argoyos at WRAMC both described her as a model patient who never complained and worked hard at physical therapy One of her former teachers and the Wirt County Sheriff who said he knew her since she was a baby and others have all made positive comments about her. They have come forward and made their comments publicly. Annonymous backstabbers who may or may not even exist are not worth taking seriously.

[milemark]

I doubt the truth of this story about Lynch's behavior. As jk said, no names, no faces, no credibility. Anyone can say anything behind someone's back annonymously. If they don't have the guts to say their piece in person, they are not fit to be taken seriously.

[milemark]

Personal demeanor insulting and unprofessional? This from someone who uses a phrase like "nothing more than West Virginia white trash" behind someone's back, without showing their face and giving their name? Making such ugly comments without giving any opportunity for Lynch to respond? This behavior is not only "insulting and unprofessional," it is craven and cowardly. These comments tell me all I need to know about the person making them and about the person repeating them, Senator.

Yeah, I should have caught that. Soemone who uses the phrase "nothing more than West Virginia white trash" commenting on someone else being unprofessional and insulting? And behind their back at that! What kind of gutless lowlife would conduct themselves so disgracefully?

[#3Fan]

I doubt the truth of this story about Lynch's behavior. As jk said, no names, no faces, no credibility. Anyone can say anything behind someone's back annonymously. If they don't have the guts to say their piece in person, they are not fit to be taken seriously.

Yeah, exactly right. And good point by jaykay that that phrase is out of place. It looks made up from someone with an agenda.