'She Was Fighting to the Death'

Washington Post ^ | 4/3/2003 | Susan Schmidt and Vernon LoebSusan Schmidt and Vernon LoebSusan Schmidt and Vernon Loeb

[poet]

Where's the proof that she "fought to the death"? Do they have eyewitnesses? Film at 11:00? Yes she gets a Purple Heart as anyone who gets wounded in battle, but, that doesn't make her any more special than any other soldier who is wounded. Sounds to me like they are going to make a heroine out of her just because she's female. If, as you imply, she was driving the truck, did she make the wrong turn, if so, is she responsiblle for putting the other soldiers in danger? Just asking. I know many of you will be angry at me for these questions, but, I am fed up with gov't propaganda. Too big an issue is being made of this, IMO

BTW, FWIW, I am truly pleased she was rescued and I wish only well for our soldiers. I am an American first and foremost, therefore, since we are in this "police action", I support the our troops.

FReegards

[af_vet_rr]

I don't know about a Bronze Star, but it has been awarded for lesser things. They have independent verification (I'm not going to get into details, loose lips and all of that, but they knew from third parties a week before she was rescued that she went down fighting - her fate after the firefight was unknown hence her MIA status).

[davisfh]

"And the source for this is??? Since she was in maintenance, what arsenal did they have? a sidearm? A rifle? A bazooka?"

A rifle (probably an M-16). I heard this morning that she went through several clips before finally running out of ammo. I would offer to find you a source but you can do that just as easily as I can.

[ChemistCat]

I am fed up with gov't propaganda.

The Iraqis are still offering some you'll like better. It's just a little harder for them to get it out than it was before we supposedly blew up their information ministry and they supposedly threw out Al-Jeezera and we supposedly got Peter Arnette and Geraldo fired.

P.S. You're probably right about the propaganda. I think they've got George Lucas making all these special effects. Our military is really sunning themselves on some beach in safe, peaceful Bali.

[cryptical]

Disagree on the Silver, that Navy SEAL in Afghanistan who fell off the chopper got a Bronze. Pretty similar situations, except his was posthumous.

[Aquinasfan]

"but women still don't belong in combat.."

She's a heroine. But you're right.

[hchutch]

Except SEALs are expected to face combat - supply clerks are a different kettle of fish.

Silver Star at the minimum.

[houstonian]

What this means, coupled with way that we fight wars, is that American troops are some of the _hardest fighting_ forces in the world, maybe _the_ hardest fighting forces in the world. Quite often war comes down to the last side to give up.

Well put. Evangelist Phil Shuler, who went ashore as a Marine at Iwo Jima and about 8 other landings, tells a story of a Japanese soldier he met in Tokyo after the war who told him that the Americans had "out-obeyed" the Japanese.

The soldiers had obeyed the best DI's (drill instructors) on the face of the earth.

[Snidely Whiplash]

Yes - Based on what's reported here - she could be awarded more than a purple heart.

Yeah. I'm thinking maybe a Silver Star.

Snidely

[poet]

"The Iraqis are still offering some you'll like better"

I don't buy into propaganda regardless of who puts it out.

You've made an assumption that I back iraq which is not the case. It's just that while you and others are hip hip hooray,
gung ho, I see an incredible erosion of our freedoms in the name of a false security. I am not Anti-American, I am Anti-Big Government. Evidently I am a minority because many Americans have bought into the lies:

"Hello, I'm from the government and I'm here to help you stay safe, just give up your liberties so we can build a fence around you and keep you cuddly safe in the arms of big government. Don't worry about the dissidents who don't buy into our song and dance because Section 802 of the Patriot Act, Clause 5A, B & C will take care of them in the future when the New World Order comes into play.

BTW, FYI, the acronym Patriot stands for "Providing Appropiate Tools to Resist & Obstruct Terrorism". Very claver of them to use that acronym.

FReegards

[Nexus6]

here you go...

https://www.perscom.army.mil/tagd/tioh/Awards/Ribbons/OrderofPrecedence.htm

[Nexus6]

I agree, the bronze star is certainly not a handout award. But again, IF this story proves to be true, she WILL qualify for this award. As a former grunt, I know a bronze star action when I see one. If the story cannot be reliably verified, no star.
She still gets the POW and Purple Heart awards, not too shabby for a 19 yr old female REMF that took a wrong turn!

[185JHP]

3-shot burst controls on full-auto weapons are a good thing. "You can't miss often enough to win a gunfight."

[MCFujiTanker]

Your right, already some of the Washington Post story has turned out to be bogus, she was never shot or stabbed. Looks like her captors might have broken her bones with a steel bar though. Ever see "Night Of The Generals"? The German Corporal got the Iron Cross because he hid in his fighting hole when the rest of his company was decimated. When relief came, he was the only one left, with piles of dead Russians around, a hero by default. I saw today that her friend, the Hopi Indian, was KIA. I also saw that the PFC's family is being flown to Germany on a "Heinz Corporate Jet". Maybe KERRY is trying to get some mileage out of this.

[LisaAnne]

Ketchup boy act politically? Oh perish the thought.

[gortklattu]

She'll either get the Silver Star (my bet) or the CMOH. Both are for Valor.

If Senator Byrd awards it, you can bet that he'll find funds for another building named after him in the process

[MCFujiTanker]

I'm typing too fast...I forgot to call him "Big Ketchup" his new AKA.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

She'll either get the Silver Star (my bet) or the CMOH. Both are for Valor.

The Medal of Honor is for extraordinary acts of valor and self-sacrifice. When it ceases to be, that is a problem, in my honest opinion.

The majority of those who have received it, unless I'm mistaken, were given it posthumously.

Here is one recipient's story:

The Coast Guard's only Medal of Honor recipient.

On September 27, 1942, Coast Guard Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro was in charge of a landing craft while evacuating 500 besieged Marines from the beaches of Guadalcanal. Near the completion of the mission, the few Marines remaining on the beach were pinned down by Japanese gunfire. Munro used his boat to cover the Marine withdrawal. Realizing that the men were in great danger, Munro placed his vessel between the beachhead and the enemy, drawing Japanese fire and protecting the men until they could be taken aboard. Minutes after the last Marine was safe Munro was fatally wounded, but his wounded crew carried on until the last boat had landed and cleared the beach.

I believe Doug Munro died from a gunshot to the neck.

And then there's Don Ruhl - the Marine on Iwo Jima who shouted "Look out!" and threw his body on a grenade to save others.

As brave a soldier as Pfc. Lynch is, and as incredibly proud of her as I am, her story (as we know it today) is simply not in that same class.

If she's made of the stuff I suspect she is, I'll bet she'd be the first one to say so.

[Caesar Soze]

The "never shot or stabbed" story has been changed to "shot, but not stabbed." Unless they changed it again while I was away from my computer....

[Roscoe]

she was never shot or stabbed.

Doctors find bullet wounds on Lynch
Saturday, April 05, 2003

By Lawrence Walsh, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

PALESTINE, W.Va. -- Parents of Jessica "Jessi" Lynch will fly to Germany this afternoon, a day after learning their daughter had suffered gunshot wounds that went undetected for days.

http://www.post-gazette.com/nation/20030405lynchnatp3.asp