Jessica Lynch charms room full of WVU journalism students

The Dominion Post ^ | 03-10-2004 | Bob Gay

[PLMerite]

"Were you a recruiter? Please state service, branch, highest grade held and years of service."

Sorry, Joe, I don't have to justify my existance to you (see profile - just celebrated 20+ years with my outfit).

My comment was based upon my recollection of something I heard somewhere years ago. Whether it was true when I heard it I can't say.

[PLMerite]

"What greater trust can a nation place in a person than the custody of 10 ICBMs loaded with 30 citykiller nukes?"

Anybody can push a button.

Tell me how a female Lynch's size (5-foot-0 and 105 lbs) is going to pull anyone's bacon anywhere.

[Joe_October]

I like Miss Lynch and wish her well. I wonder if she said anything more about being a soldier? It is absent in all the reports. Funny, the a story about talking to journalists would be so bland. Was nothing added?

We've read the template before Iraqis good, helpful. American soldiers stupid, paranoid. I would love the hear her speak to her what she really has to say.

[airborne]

I'm captain of an air rifle team which constists of 8 disabled vets. One is a Marine Gunnery Sargent who, like me, is confined to a wheelchair.

I would trust my life in her hands.

[CholeraJoe]

Tell me how a female Lynch's size (5-foot-0 and 105 lbs) is going to pull anyone's bacon anywhere.

In Honduras in 1985, a 5'3" 110lb female flight surgeon pulled me from a downed huey and dragged/carried me 200 meters to the rescue helo. I'm 5'9" and at that time weighed 180, and had 40 lbs of gear strapped on. She also treated the severely injured aircraft commander in flight. I nominated her for the Air Medal, which she received.

[CholeraJoe]

I would trust my life in her hands.

Damn, straight, trooper. I am sorry about your injury. Thanks again for your service. See above.

[PLMerite]

"In Honduras in 1985, a 5'3" 110lb female flight surgeon pulled me from a downed huey and dragged/carried me 200 meters to the rescue helo."

Good for her, glad you made it. I bet it took her a lot longer than it would have a guy your own size.

When size and strength and speed matter, they matter, or people die.

[airborne]

Thanks for the kind words. But no sympathy for me. I broke my back in 1980. Since then I've married (and divorced), fathered 2 sons, spent 12 years in Boy Scouts,where I teach Archery and all 3 Citizenship merit badges, coach my oldests roller hockey team, VP of the youngers ice hockey team and compete in wheelchair sporting events nationally.
If anything, my injury has taught me that life is a precious gift, not to be wasted on self pity.

AFWIW, I am against using aborted fetuses being used to repair my injury. I couldn't live with myself.

[CholeraJoe]

I was the least injured of the 3 on board. The PJ's carried the other two. BTW, USAF Enlisted Pararescue is not open to women. The pilots and flight surgeons who serve(d) with them can be male or female. After specialty training we all went through the same aircraft, weapons, and survival training.

The PJ's are the Special Operators. The rest of us were support.

[Tribune7]

Bump for Jessica.

[PLMerite]

"BTW, USAF Enlisted Pararescue is not open to women."

I know. There's a good reason for that, too.

[CholeraJoe]

There's a good reason for that, too.

And what would that reason be? Physical strength? Sure, I can agree with that. Courage and patriotism? Menstration? Pregnancy? Being a girrrrrl? STFU!

I can relate tales of airmen who were six weeks out from giving birth in 1990 who came to me and said,"Colonel, I want to deploy with the Air Transportable Hospital. I'm fit now and getting better. I've trained for two years for this mission. Please may I go, Sir?

[CholeraJoe]

I'm going to pound you for this one. Does testosterone make a warrior????

Are testicles the necessary prerequisite to wearing the uniform?

If a citizen has no funtioning testicles should he/she be denied the right to defend his/her country?

And finally, should any resident of the US be allowed to vote unless he/she has served in the military?

[Smocker]

Thank you for serving our country, because people like you serve, we here at home can argue and bicker about things we hold dear.

[airborne]

We're all fighting the same enemy here on FreeRepublic. We can agree to disagree, and in doing that, we make ourselves a stronger 'family'.
Having said that, good manners should always be used. If I rolled over anyones toes, I apologize. ;^)

[PLMerite]

We're gonna have to agree to disagree on this one, Colonel, but I'll play the game for a while, just for fun.

I don't question anyone's patriotism or willingness based on sex.

I *do* question the ability of a large percentage of women to perform up to the standards that men should be held, and I *do* question the wisdom of pretending that physical differences (and natural urges) aren't a factor.

Defending one's country in the military is not a *right*. There are all kinds of people who would like to wear the uniform who are denied it, usually for some kind of physical limitation.

Yes, PMS and pregnancy are factors. I've seen female military members who were practically incapacitated - physically and emotionally - by PMS. Do you want them flying nuclear-capable aircraft or making judgements about whether you live or die?

Did you let the pregnant woman deploy? Would you let a pregnant woman fly a fighter in combat? What would ejecting from an aircraft or getting wounded do to a pregnant woman? Considering the amount of time and money spent on training, is the military getting it's moneys worth from pregnant soldiers who are put on limited/restricted duty for months and months? I've seen women who had almost their entire enlistments dictated by pregnancy and "child care issues."

Do I think testosterone plays a part in aggressiveness? Yes, I do. Do I think that aggression plays a big part in getting an individual to stand/advance and fight? Yup.

If it were possible to field a division composed entirely of women Jessica Lynch's size, would you if the consequences were on your head? If size, strength, sex and hormones don't make a difference it shouldn't matter.

[blackie]

I like your style Joe ~ also your profile page!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[CholeraJoe]

Did you let the pregnant woman deploy?

They weren't pregnant. They had just given birth six weeks before. And yes, I took them with the ATH.

Would you let a pregnant woman fly a fighter in combat? What would ejecting from an aircraft or getting wounded do to a pregnant woman?

Pregnancy has always been disqualifying for worldwide duty. Female U-2 pilots must be on contraceptives and be regularly tested for pregnancy due to the damaging effects of radiation at high altitudes. Other flying duties may be performed by pregnant crewmembers into the second trimester if the aircraft is not single seat with an ejection seat.

I served with medical units which are predominately staffed with females. We had our issues with pregnancy and weight control but by and large all of the airmen, NCOs and officers were dedicated and motivated.

Would I field an infantry unit composed of Jessica Lynches? Maybe, if I could hand select them. One of our dentists was about Jessica's size. Very soft spoken and polite. I was positioned next to her on the firing range once. She put 40 5.56 rounds in a space the size of a quarter at 100 meters. I later learned she had a black belt in karate. Give me 10,000 like her and we'll see.

[CholeraJoe]

Thanks, Blackie!

[Smocker]

For my part, I do not think you were anything but polite. Please don't apologize.

I have strong feelings on this subject, as well as what I think are good arguments all around as to why women should not be in combat. I do not look to disrespect or diminish women who what to serve their country. I just think there are other equally honorable ways of serving which don't involve being put at risk.

I hope I only argued as politely as you did.