'I'm No Hero' -Former Iraq Captive Jessica Lynch

MaconAreaOnLine ^ | 11/6/03

[ought-six]

"What kind of gun? Did sand gum it up?"

Most likely an M-16. That's what I shot when I was in the Air Force during Vietnam. It's a wonderful weapon, but does have a tendency to jam, even if it is properly maintained and regularly cleaned. For reliability I would prefer a 1903 Springfield bolt-action rifle in .30-06 caliber.

[BBell]

Here is an article about PFC Patrick Miller. He is a true hero of the same ambush Lynch was in. He was awared the Silver Star. I am no one in any position but I thought it was more of a Bronze Star action.


http://www.aiipowmia.com/inter23/in120703miller.html

[mother]

I have been a shooter all my life. I also served in the Army Infantry for 11 years, most of them as a Scout/Sniper. The AR-15/M-16 rifle is one of the , if not the most inherently accurate, ergonomic weapons ever produced. I have also found it highly reliable. While I am not saying that it never malfunctions, I am saying that when PORPERLY maintained, it is HIGHLY reliable. Durring my service in the first Gulf War, and at other times training in a desert environment, I have seen very few failures when the weapon is properly maintained. I would speculate that it was more likely the intense situation she was in that caused the "malfunction". This in NO WAY reflects poorly on her. Operating a weapon on a range is vastly different than operating one under combat conditions. Could happen to anyone. I mean only to point out that this is a very good, very reliable weapons system.

[#3Fan]

Yeah, I've read all about Miller. I'm not going to rip anyone's medal off their jacket, that's for sure. I just think people shouldn't nitpick Lynch about her's when they've been given out for less for 40 years.

[newcats]

It is a sick culture when "men" send women to war to fight for them.

Is Isreal a "sick culture"?

[mass55th]

" I never remember any military spokesman detailing anything about her capture or what led up to it."

Have you found any link to the news of her bad-mouthing the military about her capture? I've looked and looked on FR and can't find a thing.

[oh8eleven]

Man, you made me think I lost 3 days!
For THE birthday celebrating early and often is SOP! Semper Fi ...

[jjm2111]

Can you tell me the correct type of lube?

Thx,

J.

P.S. Kudos to Lynch for classiness AND bravery!

[jjm2111]

"Support units don't have time to sit around and take apart their weapons and put them back together all day..."

No, but they should be field stripped and oiled at least once per day, esp. in that sandy enviornment. They also should be in condition 1.

[jjm2111]

>>She DID NOT get "excellent care" from her captors.

Here, we are in COMPLETE agreement.

[#3Fan]

No, but they should be field stripped and oiled at least once per day, esp. in that sandy enviornment. They also should be in condition 1.

What if it interferes with getting to that last Patriot battery and then a missile strike kills 50?

[jjm2111]

>>She is no hero. And it was an absolute waste of time and money to have her in US Army.

Would you like the number of a recruiter?

[#3Fan]

Here, we are in COMPLETE agreement.

Finally! :^) Believe it or not, I had several Lynch bashers attack me furiously a few months ago when I said it was obvious our POWs were tortured and likely she was.

[jjm2111]

>>What if it interferes with getting to that last Patriot battery and then a missile strike kills 50?

It shouldn't. Putting a weapon in condition 1 take about 1 second. Field stripping and lubing it shouldn't take more than 20 minutes for a rear area unit.

[#3Fan]

It shouldn't. Putting a weapon in condition 1 take about 1 second. Field stripping and lubing it shouldn't take more than 20 minutes for a rear area unit.

I wonder what their schedule was for that day.

[#3Fan]

Also, riding in a convoy in dusty conditions in trucks, it would seem to me that it would only take a few minute to redirty the guns. Maybe I'm wrong though.

[XJarhead]

The Post article is far more ambiguous than it seems on first blush. If you read a bit farther down, it says:

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 said, 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.

That's exactly how I remember hearing it. The military never said it happened that way, and repeatedly cautioned that they couldn't verify stories of her fighting. The source was an intercept of an Iraqi radio signals about someone fighting back, possibly a female, and some chuckleheads jumped to the conclusion it was Lynch. That's the classic situation of getting confusing reports from a battlefield or firefight, and no grounds to claim a conspiracy or some campaign of disinformation.

As for the reports of her getting abused in the hospital, that information again was attributed to that Iraqi lawyer who claimed to have helped her. It's entirely possible that he lied about that, but that's not the military's fault since they identified him as the source of the info.

[Killborn]

She doesn't seem to like being in the spotlight.

Yes we should never forget the others who served and died.

But the great news is that she's now home.

Besides, she will problably straighten out the useless idiots:

Idiot Lib: US baby killer!
PFC Lynch: I have never seen a single soldier behave in a manner that is dishonorable to the US. Every single soldier took great care to not inflict any harm on the innocents.

Lib: Uhh... US racist!
Lynch: Ahem. Lori Piestewa.

Lib: Duhh... US sexist.
No. Wait. I'm gonna go hit my bong now.
Lynch: And you can only do that because brave men and women fight to protect your freedom to do that and don't you forget it!

[jjm2111]

>>riding in a convoy in dusty conditions in trucks...

Not if one closes the dust flap on the ejection port.