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.

[Southack]

"Lynch's rescue at midnight local time Tuesday was a classic Special Operations raid, with U.S. commandos in Black Hawk helicopters engaging Iraqi forces on their way in and out of the medical compound, defense officials said.

Acting on information from CIA operatives, they said, a Special Operations force of Navy SEALs, Army Rangers and Air Force combat controllers touched down in blacked-out conditions. An AC-130 gunship, able to fire 1,800 rounds a minute from its 25mm cannon, circled overhead, as did a reconnaissance aircraft providing video imagery of the operation as it unfolded."

That's the first mention of Spooky/Spectre that I've seen so far in this war. Significant.

[patriciaruth]

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Yeah, it can be over quick.

[jwalsh07]

:-} West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home country roads.

Jessie rocks!

[CheneyChick]

Snicker, snicker. Army girls with guns RULE!

[blam]

One tough gal. Pray for full recovery.

"The announcement of the raid was delayed for more than an hour yesterday because some U.S. troops had remained on the ground longer than anticipated, Brooks said. "We wanted to preserve the safety of the forces," he said."

Okay, I apologize for my impatience last night. Good Reason.

[EternalHope]

She did, in fact, kick some butt. Read the article.

She's a hero. Through and through, all the way. And I'm damn proud of her. The whole country is gonna be too, as soon as they hear the story.

[zook]

I don't like women in combat that much either to tell the truth. But if these reports are true this woman *is* a hero. One among many for sure, but a hero nonetheless.

So let's all just knock off this crap about how she ain't!

[AlextheWise1]

probably because of the bodies....

[potlatch]

Just shows what a cute 19 year old girl can do!!!

[briant]

I have just been to several threads that become flame fests lol. I agree with you, but I know the Ted Kennedy let-the womyn-do-the-fighting crowd gets all exited about this story, and best not get in there way or they'll go nuts.

[norcalvet]

Before you get all excited about this, please remember that we still don't know all the details of what happened, Pfc. Lynch is lying in a hospital with two broken legs, a broken arm, a gunshot wound, and odds are those are not the limit of her injuries.

I have no doubt the female members of my family could be extremely effective in taking out bad guys if my home was invaded. The question is, would I want her to HAVE to do that? And despite their effectiveness, might the male members of my family be even more effective, and suffer less injury?

That said, to Pfc. Lynch I say "well done soldier!" I wish her a speedy recovery and all the best to her and her family. From what I've heard so far, she followed her training, performed well, and did an outstanding job in an extremely bad situation.

[patriciaruth]

I think they found the bodies after they evacuated Jessica. This put a big damper on the party.

[Kevin Curry]

Spin by those who want to promote women in combat?

If she fought well and heroically, she deserves all the acclaim and respect she will undoubtedly receive.

But it would be wrong--terribly wrong and short-sighted--to use this isolated incident as a justification for making women a regular part of front-line combat forces.

I pray people, especially conservatives, have better sense than to fall for such an emotion-driven argument.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Well I'm not sold on women in combat either, but she is certainly a hero. Working supply, takes up a rifle when under fire, resists until she runs out of bullets. While I respect your service, I find it somewhat stunning that a serviceman would say that another who was just following orders, got trapped, and then bravely resisted the enemy rather than simply toss up the white flag is not a hero.

Are you sure that was what you meant?

[CommandoFrank]

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

WRONG...

I don't believe women should be place in direct battle and I'm thrilled to death that she is back. Her efforts are nothing short of an American hero and this episode will be a movie some day. I am so damn proud of her...

[bonesmccoy]

makes me teary eyed... god bless her West VA spirit!

She's a modern Molly Pitcher!

[rivercat]

Bronze Star, at least.

Better be more than a Bronze Star... In Gulf War I they gave out Bronze Stars for just about anything. Our Battalion Commander's secretary got one. In a REMF unit to boot!

[King_of_Hindsight]

True...and we are just genetically made that way as men...However, sometimes I like the cool, calm thinking of a woman as a partner. I have had that opportunity a few times over the years and it has equaled out my, ummmm, irrational, quick thinking responses....Brute force, when needed however, is a different story.

[Petronski]

I will marry her...but I doubt I'm worthy.

Damn! That's kewl.

[Destro]

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.

I am actually ashamed we as a nation feel it is a good thing to send 19 year old girls into combat.