Lynch Shot Iraqi Soldiers

The Washington Post ^ | April 3, 2003 | Susan Schmidt and Vernon Loeb

[John H K]

Pfc. Jessica Lynch, rescued Tuesday from an Iraqi hospital, fought fiercely and shot several enemy soldiers after Iraqi forces ambushed the Army's 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company, firing her weapon until she ran out of ammunition, U.S. officials said yesterday.

[JustPiper]

I'd rather have a PFC Lynch watching my back than a 1000 of the so called "men" of the Iraqi Army. She's killed the enemy, been wounded by gunfire, survived being tortured, and according to her family, still wants to finish out her service. If we can call Michael Jordan a hero, certainly we can call this soldier one as well.

You have said it so succintly and heartfelt that this says it all ;)

[Hunble]

What you just posted was perfect!

In the 20 years I served with the U.S. Army, I have worked with many women that I would be proud to go into combat with. Many examples, but these women had more courage, guts and basic military abilities than many other men in their unit.

PFC Lynch: I will send you a personal check in the morning as a small token of thanks.

[FReepaholic]

>>...Silly me, I considered anyone who volunteered to undertake the risks of the military, serve their country, head to hostile territory and follow through on their duties in the face of dangers(i.e. everyone who joined the military and didn't shirk off on don't ask, pregnancy or consc. objections) were heroes...<<

Well said.

I'm with you..they're heroes.

[hispanarepublicana]

She kicked their ass. What could be more humiliating for a muslim warrior?

And, to be a woman from a place named PALESTINE (WV) on top of that! I wonder if that had anything to do with her being kept alive?

[Billthedrill]

Kind of ironic, really. I was just on a thread where a very articulate Iranian lady who was a feminist during her 20 years in the States laments the loss of her freedom and longs for the good guys to ride in and give it back to her. I observed sadly that she would have to be willing to die for it and see her children die for it.

Then I read this.

Speechless.

[JustPiper]

How can someone so damn cute kick so much 'elite fighter' ass? America Rocks

What about female FBI, CIA etc that have kickass agents in the field, that's acceptable...so...

[bootyist-monk]

You can take one of the following into battle with you. Do you choose...

Male (reportedly)

or...

Female (proven enemy killer)

Choose wisely.

[JustPiper]

Admin pog

Excuse me?

[Lancey Howard]

The interview I heard took place late this afternoon on 1210AM radio here in the Philly area. Dave Christian, who has lately been somewhat of a fixture on Fox News nightly war coverage, was interviewed by phone by talk show host Michael Smerconish.

Dave Christian, the most decorated Vietnam war veteran in America, lives near me here in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In the '80s he ran against incumbent Peter Kostmayer for Congress in my district and was narrowly defeated. (Greenwood now holds the seat.)

David said that Jessica Lynch would recover physically but would be receiving psychiatric counseling. He said her arms and a leg were broken during torture and that he did not want to discuss the torture any further. I got the impression he had spoken to somebody close to the situation. Captain Christian also stated that Lynch's torture was extensive "because of her being an Anglo female". He said that her status as an Anglo female made her particularly more targeted for torture by the Iraqis.

[Trajan88]

Ms. Combat gave 'em a little hell.

Awesome!!! flat-out RED, WHITE, & BLUE awesome!

Trajan88; TAMU Class of '88; Law Hall (may it R.I.P.) Ramp 9 Mule; f.u.p.

[JoJo Gunn]

"We should not be placed in the position of having to send our men into a risky, dangerous situation to rescue a single soldier."

There was a time when we went to war for the sake of ONE of our people. Thank God others like you came along to set us straight.

[El Gato]

As I recall women would not have been in this position pre-Clinton. Not everyone in the at-risk positions are grunts.

Actually there was a similar incident, a supply/maintainence unit taking a wrong turn and running into Iraqi forces, during Dessert Storm, and one of the POWs was a woman. The differnce was that she wasn't as well armed or well trained as PFC Lynch apparently was. There were two women POWs in DS, the other one was an Army flight surgeon who went out on a chopper trying to rescue a downed Air Force pilot. She stayed on active duty and made full Colonel (at least)

[Diddle E. Squat]

Nice try. Despite your suggestion, her rescue was not given higher priority than that of the others, so it completely sinks your Liz Smart/racism theory. The got specific intel from a doctor who had treated her as to her EXACT location. If the military gets similar info on another POW, they'll give a similar rescue the same priority consideration.

[JustPiper]

watch it you'll get an admin pog like me...btw what is a pog?

[Hunble]

How can someone so damn cute kick so much 'elite fighter' ass?

I can answer that question with a single word:

Divorce?

[Destro]

I don't find her story fine at all. The only good thing about this story was her rescue. And if America does begin to celebrate stories of girls in combat I will leave.

[TheLooseThread]

"This is going to be SO depressing for the "should women be on the front crowd," isn't it?"

I, personally, do not believe that women have the same killer instinct that men have. If this story turns out to be true (I wait 24-48 hours for all war stories to stabalize), then I will modify at least part of my opinion.

[SteveH]

Were I prez., I would see to it that she (a) got better; (b) stayed in a stateside Army base for the remainder of the war; (c) got reassigned to intelligence and training; (d)got to see her family as often as she wanted; and (e) gave her personally whatever appropriate awards she has coming. Regarding intelligence and training, it seems to me that relatively few people have the firsthand experience that she now does, so I don't at all consider such an assignment for her as sidelining.

I do hope she and her family remains safe for the remainder of the war and beyond.

And I also hope that her comrades are also remembered appropriately (the remainder in captivity, rescued also).

I speculate that she might get a sweet movie deal from this. And it also might give her a chance to reassess her career goals (but only if she is already so inclined).

Finally as prez. I would phase out the notion of women in the front line, and do it quickly. We are putting women in the harm's way in the worst possible manner. My gosh, what would they do under similar circumstances with that last bullet is beyond what I would want to contemplate...

[briant]

How can someone so damn cute kick so much 'elite fighter' ass?

Because our media goes along with the lie of Saddam's scary elite boogymen, who are as we've seen multiple times getting stomped. I wounder who's more dissapointed.

[Aaron0617]

How many enemy did she kill? How many rounds did she discharge? This story is bull--fertilizer to let the idea grow in the minds of the gullible.

Why do you find this so hard to believe? Her gun was by her side during the trip. After the convoy was trapped and the Fedayeen started firing on her crew. She simply picked up her gun and started firing in the direction of the enemy.

This explains why she got the gunshot wounds. Why would the Fedayeen shoot at anyone surrendering unless they were executing them.

I believe this.