Rescued U.S. soldier put up fierce fight - Wash Post

Reuters | 4/03/03

[kattracks]

Rescued U.S. soldier put up fierce fight - Wash Post

WASHINGTON, April 3 (Reuters) - Rescued U.S. soldier Jessica Lynch shot several Iraqi soldiers prior to her capture, firing her weapon until she ran out of ammunition, The Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing U.S. officials.

The 19-year-old Private First Class continued firing at the Iraqis even after she sustained multiple gunshot wounds and watched several other soldiers in her unit die around her, one official told the newspaper.

"She was fighting to the death," the official was quoted as saying. "She did not want to be taken alive."

Lynch arrived in Germany early on Thursday for treatment at an American military hospital. She was held as a prisoner of war by Iraq for more than a week until U.S. special forces freed her on Tuesday.

Lynch, who has two broken legs and one broken arm, was with a U.S. Army maintenance convoy ambushed by Iraqi forces on March 23 in the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriya.

One official said Lynch was stabbed when Iraqi forces closed in on her position, the newspaper said.

U.S. defense officials said they were aware of the report, but could not immediately confirm the details of Lynch's capture.

Officials told the newspaper that the precise sequence of events was still being determined and further information would emerge as Lynch is debriefed.

The report said the information about Lynch's ordeal was based on battlefield intelligence which officials said came from monitored communications and from Iraqi sources in whose reliability has yet to be assessed.

Lynch, from Palestine, West Virginia, arrived at the U.S. Ramstein air base in southwestern Germany early on Thursday aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport plane.

The special forces also recovered the bodies of two U.S. soldiers in the raid at the Saddam Hospital north of the Euphrates river which runs through Nassiriya.

Lynch was one of 15 soldiers listed missing, captured or killed when a 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company convoy made a wrong turn and came under attack from Iraqi tanks and fighters.

Five of the captives, but not Lynch, were shown on Iraqi television as well as the bloodied bodies of up to eight men, prompting President George W. Bush to warn that anybody mistreating U.S. prisoners would be punished as "war criminals.

04/03/03 05:57 ET

[DCPatriot]

My point is that having 100% "rah-rah-rah" in here makes those that accuse us of being "right-wing extremists" more credible.

Dissent is good. Opposing views are good. They serve a purpose for those that come in here to possibly LEARNsomething.

Not everybody's as intelligent as you (or me)

;^)

BTW, putting 19 year old girls into a combat zone is moronic to begin with. I don't give a damn if she was "...only driving a water truck".

That's what Feminism and equal rights for women have bestowed on the military.

[William Terrell]

It is a well known, and well used technique out here, to make a statment designed to divert inquiry, and encourage those who look no deeper than a simple claim to buy into the position represented by the poster. When called on it, it was "just a joke" dontcha know.

Did you fall for that statement, "The report said the information about Lynch's ordeal was based on battlefield intelligence which officials said came from monitored communications and from Iraqi sources in whose reliability has yet to be assessed."?

Did you parse it? Or did you, as many here, let their biases and emotions hold their noses while they swallow it whole.

All I asked for is a simple content of the "communications" and a verification of the "Iraqi source". Instead I get "jokes". Well, joke on, my friend, instead of trying to get to the truth of the matter.

[Euro-American Scum]

The report said the information about Lynch's ordeal was based on battlefield intelligence which officials said came from monitored communications and from Iraqi sources in whose reliability has yet to be assessed.

So far, the reports look accurate. And if there is corroboration, I wonder if the Army will put her in for a decoration of some sort. Way to go Jessica.

[William Terrell]

So far, the reports look accurate.

Well, I've been looking for the content of the monitored communications and a separate verifiable source, and a more current assessment of the Iraqi source. I'd sure appreciate it if you would post the details.

[skeeter]

The same "iraqi intelligence" told us that one soldier was killed in a brief, sharp exchange of gunfire. The others were captured and then 4 were executed in front of townspeople. IMO, this doesn't square with an Audie Murphy-esqe stand by Pvt Lynch.

Her story is imressive enough without any embellishment.

[Euro-American Scum]

I believe PFC Lynch should be honored for her amazing personal bravery and grit--as should the soldiers who rescued her. A Bronze Star, minimum. It's an inspirational, patriotic, heart-warming story for the ages. What I regret is the larger political weapon liberals are fashioning her story into with the able emotion-driven assistance of conservatives who ought to know better.

You sum up my hopes and reservations in a nutshell. Jessica should be honored for her personal courage under such extreme and adverse circumstances. But the thought of the righteous cause the feminazis will make of this makes my skin crawl.

You know she will be besieged with requests from every liberal bottom-feeding journalist for interviews/book deals/movies when she recovers. I just hope the country finds a way to honor the woman without peddling the propaganda.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

You're sniveling an agenda which is now shown to be complete crap.

Don't you hate it when someone's actions prove you wrong?

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Another jerkwad of a paleomoron.

Hate the idea of tough American women doing American jobs, don't you?

[Chancellor Palpatine]

.

[brydic1]

I hope to see her name some today on a presidental ticket -- ON THE REPUBLICAN LINE

Let her first run against KKK Byrd, the Saddamist supporter from West Virginia. She would really be helping the cause if she gets rid of this character.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Don't know if you were here yet - this thread is something else....

[cyborg]

That's so true! I feel sorry for the parents of the other POWs. Also, there are children who won't have daddies and in Shoshana's case, a mommy anymore. I hope that they release the info once the bodies are identified. Somehow I think they're all dead. Perhaps this is why everyone is making a big deal about Lynch. She's alive. I am happy for her, because there are others who weren't so fortunate.

[TheAbbodad]

You fail to give any credit to this brave soldier. I puposely do not call Pvt. Lynch a woman, a girl, etc. It is my understanding that there is no difference between the oath that men and women take when the join our armed forces. God bless them all!!

[CholeraJoe]

Citation for the award of the Medal of Honor to Pfc Jessica Lynch.

Pfc Jessica Lynch distinguished herself while serving as a supply clerk for the 507th Maintenance Company, on March 23, 2003 near Naseriyah, Iraq. The convoy in which Pfc Lynch was driving came under intense attack by Iraqi forces. Despite being wounded in the inital attack, Pfc Lynch moved a wounded comrade to safety while under fire and bravely returned fire against her attackers inflicting several casualties. She continued to courageously and stubborly resist her attackers despite being wounded again. Pfc Lynch resisted her attackers until her ammunition was exhausted and then continued resisting in hand to hand combat until she was stabbed and captured. During her captivity she was brutally tortured suffering several fractures and was threatened with execution. Despite torture, she refused to divulge any information other than name, rank and service number. Pfc Lynch's gallantry in action and while in captivity at the risk of her life are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon herself and the Armed Forces of this country. .

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Amen!

[Poohbah]

Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to senior folks, not us enlisted swine.

The only options above the Silver Star are the Soldier's Cross and THE Medal.

[William Terrell]

You're sniveling an agenda which is now shown to be complete crap. Don't you hate it when someone's actions prove you wrong?

Sniveling an agenda? Oh, my. I'm sure the lady was wounded and injured. She was much too close to the front in a support position. William Jefferson Clinton put her there.

As for the wounded lion fighting, well, I presume nothing from a reference to a carefully unspecific statement and a source not deemed reliable in the Washington Post.

Doesn't it bother you that so many voting citizens would swallow whole an unsupported assertion from a newsource with a proven socialist bias, with women in dangerous jobs being in the forefront of the socialist agenda?

[hchutch]

That would be the Distinguished Service MEDAL.

The DSC is the Army's equivalent to the Navy Cross.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Look, dolt, that woman did a dangerous job - and she did it as well as a man of similar age and training. It might not fit into your comfy little worldview, but there it is. SHE DID THE JOB THAT YOU INSIST SHE IS INCPABLE OF DOING.

From the comfort of your chair by a computer, you choose (along with a few other troglodytes) to crap all over a life that should be celebrated. You have succeeded in doing something that few people can - and that is to make me sick.