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.

[JackelopeBreeder]

Basic load is seven mags -- 210 rounds. In close combat that goes real damn quick.

[JustPiper]

Tell me that last line was meant to be sarcasm.

Well, you have to tell me which Friend

[Gamecock]

I'll see your Bronze Star and raise it to a Silver Star. She'll also get the Purple Heart, POW Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (unless something more specific is authorized, which I'm sure will happen, we had three created for DS1) That combined with the National Defense Service Meadal and Army Service Ribbon results in this:

Not a bad rack for a PFC.

[isthisnickcool]

If we can call Michael Jordan a hero, certainly we can call this soldier one as well.

Count me out of the "we" part when it comes to Michael Jordan or any other sports player being a hero. The word does not apply to them.

[Destro]

Neanderthals are my favorite kind of old fashioned conservatives. Not one here (other than me) questions a Washington Post article with unamed sources on a culture war issue.

[norcalvet]

You missed my point. "Hero" is a relative term. What people who have never experienced the military or combat consider a hero is much different from the perception of those who have. Folks who have been in the military, and watched their friends die, have a higher bar.

I meant to put things in perspective, not to belittle what Pfc. Lynch has done. What she has done is good, but to put her on a pedestal and call her a hero while ignoring her fellows who are now dead is inappropriate. Be glad for her, celebrate her survival, and honor her accomplishments, but have some respect for the true heros.

[briant]

I know this, but the military policy change when Clinton came allowing women in closer to combat positions. how that happened in GWI . I don't know, but GBI seemed to like the idea of women in combat almost as much as Clinton.

[OldEagle]

I have heard that she was tortured. Female POW's were raped and tortured in the previous Iraq war. Probably no different today. You have to be proud of this woman. Thank God she is safe. I wonder if this will intensify the war?

[scott7278]

Yeah, and this is one of the better pictures! She married at 39 years of age to a man, Clinton Burke. I'd like to see his picture!

[JustPiper]

It's just my opinion and I'm taking it to bed. Love all you freepers for your individual opinions...but guess what???? My daughter is not headed for Parris Island...

Well, that is what is great about FR, individuality and opinions. And its great you don't want your daughter in combat, that is your opinion and your daughter.

But if my daughter comes to me, which by the way she did at 10, and she wants to know why she can't fight it combat, which she did at 16, I want solid reasons to give her.

But then again with my oldest daughter wanted to be in beauty pagents, I allowed one, and I tellya King, I like were the 16 year old is going better wanting to be Special Ops ;)

[HairOfTheDog]

And if America does begin to celebrate stories of girls in combat I will leave.

Threatening to leave? HA! Stomp off mad, take back all of your marbles! Hold your breath till you turn blue for all I care! I am celebrating, and so are most on this thread.

Welcome home, PFC Lynch... Nice Job, and may you heal fully.

[Kevin Curry]

If she grew up in the country around guns and knew how to hunt, I can see her doing this. I know some women who are as gritty and cold-blooded as any man, very adept at handling firearms, and more than able and willing to empty a magazine at another human being if the circumstances warranted it. But they are very much the exception, and in each case they grew up steeped in a country, horses, and gun culture. They do not make a good argument to place women generally in front-line combat roles.

It seems to me PFC Lynch was in a proper role as a supply clerk. If she did fight in the manner suggested, I applaud her courage and grit. I just hope no one takes her circumstances and tries to make them into a broader rationale for dropping the restriction on women in front-line combat roles.

[JustPiper]

So, where is Shoshauna? Wrong color? Not a picture perfect blonde, suitable for national media exposure?

The sole women taken captive during Gulf War 1 is a neighbor. Her quiet dignity while describing her ordeal of rape and torture was enough for me to question the role of women in combat support roles. Her account, as a flight surgeon, captured, raped, abused, and subjected to other tortures is proof that some have the strength to endure, but we men will still risk all for the life of a women out of all proportion to their worth and value as soldiers.

No flaming here, I think many should be shame-faced for not bringing Shoshauna up, because she still is in danger.

[Crusader21stCentury]

Wonder if she'd be interested in a slightly sedentary older man with bad knees and a great wit ...

That's a long line you just jumped in.

[briant]

Lol. A pog is someone who does little work, but he is doing his legitimate job, if that makes any sense. Usuall so-called REMFs who aren't even mechanics etc. Basically secetatrial types etc.

[PISANO]

Definition of HERO: A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life:

From my perspective and from my experience I say she fits the bill!!

[Diddle E. Squat]

Fair enough. Thanks for clearing that up(and this time I am serious in that statement). But I think you are misinterpreting most persons reactions to this story. I am not putting her on a pedestal above her fallen brothers, were they rescued or escaped, I and others here would be celebrating, backslapping, and offering just as much praise. Just as we will be when the uninjured troops return home.

[Destro]

I also Welcome back Miss Lynch. And if God blesses me with a daughter I will see to it she will never need nor want to serve in the military.

[patriciaruth]

In Mogadishu we sent dozens of guys in to die to rescue white males. Your argument they only went because she was a female sucks.

As for your argument they only went to rescue her because she was blonde, I think it is more likely that she is only alive because she is blonde. Think about that.

[CyberAnt]

I just can't imagine running out of ammo - bummer!