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Rescued POW Put Up Fierce Fight
CBSNews.com ^ | April 3, 2003 | CBS

Posted on 04/03/2003 6:14:02 AM PST by rockinonritalin

The 19-year-old Army supply clerk rescued in Iraq shot several Iraqi soldiers during the March 23 ambush that resulted in her capture, newspaper reported Thursday. She kept firing even after she had several gunshot wounds, finally running out of ammunition, the newspaper said, citing unidentified U.S. officials.

Spirited but hungry, Pfc. Jessica Lynch arrived in Germany for treatment of two broken legs and bullet wounds reportedly suffered in a fierce gun battle she waged against her Iraqi captors.

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

"Talk about spunk!" said Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., who was briefed by military officials on the rescue.

Pentagon officials and family members contacted late Wednesday declined comment on the report.

Lynch's daring nighttime rescue used virtually every asset the U.S. had, reports CBS News Correspondent Lee Cowan, from a battalion of Marines who drew fire as a decoy to U.S. Special Forces, who ran through a hail of gunfire for a stranger — not once, but twice.

"There were fire fights outside of the building, getting in and getting out," said Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks at Central Command in Doha.

The former POW left Iraq on a stretcher with an American flag folded across her chest, and arrived at a U.S. air base in Germany late Wednesday for treatment at the U.S. military's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. She was the only patient aboard the 10-hour flight, reports CBS News Correspondent Stephan Kaufman at Landstuhl.

From Germany, she spoke with her family at their home in Palestine, W.Va., in a 15-minute telephone call.

"She's real spirited. She hasn't eaten in eight days and she's hungry," said her father, Greg Lynch. "She wants some food."

Randy Coleman, a military spokesman in West Virginia, said Lynch had fractures in both legs, and her family said she also injured her arm. U.S. officials in Kuwait said earlier she had two broken legs, a broken arm and at least one gunshot wound.

According to the Post account, she was also stabbed when Iraqi forces closed in on her.

Landstuhl spokesman Capt. Norris Jones would not comment on Lynch's injuries other than to say she was in stable condition.

"She's weak, she knows she's injured and they're doing the best that they can to get her so she can travel," said her brother Greg Lynch Jr. Her father said she will be transferred to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington as soon as possible.

However, it may be some time before she is reunited with her family, since soldiers taken prisoner often need time to "decompress" and meet with medical and psychological experts.

The U.S. forces who rescued her also found 11 corpses — some believed to be Americans — in and around Saddam Hospital, and the military was trying to determine whether any of them were captured members of her unit.

Lynch and as many as 12 other members of the 507th Maintenance Company were captured after making a wrong turn in Nasariyah. She watched several soldiers in her unit die in the ambush, the Post reported.

Not long after the fighting, five of Lynch's fellow soldiers showed up in Iraqi television footage being asked questions by their captors. The video also showed bodies, apparently of U.S. soldiers, leading the Pentagon to accuse Iraq of executing some POWs.

Lynch joined the Army after graduating from high school in 2001. Her brother Greg enlisted the same day. Her 18-year-old sister Brandi will report for duty in August.

"I still want to do it even more. It's the Lynch blood," Brandi Lynch said.

To help Lynch reach her goal of becoming a kindergarten teacher, West Virginia and Marshall universities and Liberty College in Lynchburg, Va., offered her competing packages Wednesday.

And West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise said the state would finance Lynch's education at a state public college or university of her choosing.

"She wants to become a teacher, and we are going to see that she becomes one," he said after visiting the Lynch family at home.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iraqipow; iraqipows; jessicalynch
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To: Dower
West Virgina has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the United States and one of the lowest murder rates. They know their arms and they use them properly. I am not the least bit surprised this hero comes from West Virginia.
21 posted on 04/03/2003 6:36:03 AM PST by cpdiii (He knew sh)
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To: rockinonritalin
If the story is true and can be verified, she will be put up for the Congressional Medal of Honor. And if it is really true, she will get it.
22 posted on 04/03/2003 6:39:25 AM PST by Flint
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To: finnman69

23 posted on 04/03/2003 6:41:21 AM PST by rockinonritalin
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To: rockinonritalin
IMHO her actions are at the very least deserving of a Silver Star.
24 posted on 04/03/2003 6:43:31 AM PST by Mustard
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To: Dower
"now West Virginia has Pfc. Lynch."

"For a country girl, she was pretty well armed..." Queen of My Double Wide Trailer.

If there is supporting facts and evidence, she may be a Medal of Honor candidate.

25 posted on 04/03/2003 6:44:59 AM PST by Deguello
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To: All
This has to be killing the liberal press. How do they play it?

A woman tortured and abused by the "victim" Iraqis. A woman who knows how and is willing to use a gun. A woman who loves her country. A woman who is a legitimate hero.

How can we make her look good and the war look evil?

Hillary has to be wondering how she can have her picture taken with her? What about her own senator, Sen. Byrd? How does he play this one?

The libs are in a quandry.

26 posted on 04/03/2003 6:45:44 AM PST by legman ("If God is for us, who can be against us?")
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Comment #27 Removed by Moderator

To: cpdiii
Its nice that the state is giving her a 4 year ride in college, but the Army would be crazy to let go of her.
28 posted on 04/03/2003 6:48:38 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: girlscout
Madonna will fight for the movie role.
To play Jessica's mother?

No, to play the evil Sadammite loyolist nurse who administers the torture and conducts the interrogation. The highlight of the scene is when Jessica spits in her face.

29 posted on 04/03/2003 6:50:00 AM PST by VRWCmember (Free Miguel Estrada, you democrat b@$tards)
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Comment #30 Removed by Moderator

To: rockinonritalin
I am truly moved....
God Bless this patriotic American family!!
31 posted on 04/03/2003 6:52:04 AM PST by Ignatz (Scribe of the Unwritten Law)
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To: rockinonritalin
this young lady is being portrayed as a superhero and from the details that have come out so far, i cannot call her a hero. is there any right-thinking soldier who would not "fight to the death" by firing their last round at the enemy before being taken prisoner by an enemy as ruthless as this one? I deeply appreciate her service to our country and wish her the best but, unless some additional details emerge, i see no reason for her to be hailed as a hero.

It is likely that some of the brave people who risked their lives to rescue her from captivity are heroes, and it is very likely that the iraqi citizen that risked his life to provide information which lead to her rescue is a hero.

flame away, "dunning nomex suit"
32 posted on 04/03/2003 6:52:28 AM PST by fatrat
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To: Dower
I figure they'll probably wind up putting her in for the DSC in case it's downgraded however, she may wind up winning the DSC afterall!

The Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to a person who while serving in any capacity with the Army, distinguished himself or herself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor; while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing or foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing Armed Force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The act or acts of heroism must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from his or her comrades.
33 posted on 04/03/2003 6:53:13 AM PST by Mustard
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To: fatrat
"is there any right-thinking soldier who would not "fight to the death" by firing their last round at the enemy before being taken prisoner by an enemy as ruthless as this one"

Yes, believe me, I've seen them!
34 posted on 04/03/2003 6:54:56 AM PST by Mustard
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To: legman
How can we make her look good and the war look evil?

They keep playing up the notion that she enlisted to get out of her small town, to get an education and to see the world. I also continue to hear that W. Virginia sends more of its young men and women into the military than any other state for this same reason. I don't think they can portray her as a reluctant hero - but they seem to be trying.

35 posted on 04/03/2003 6:59:44 AM PST by Frapster (*cough*)
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To: Dower
Tennessee has Sgt. York, now West Virginia has Pfc. Lynch.

York was an amazing soldier. I read a book on the fellow. Unassuming and polite. My guess is that PFC Lynch is the same way and will play this down, and go on with her life.

36 posted on 04/03/2003 7:03:51 AM PST by Fury
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To: Frapster
The scene I am dreading is Bobby Byrd showing up at her bedside, with a press crew in tow. Ugh.
37 posted on 04/03/2003 7:05:22 AM PST by secret garden (si vis pacem, para bellum)
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Comment #38 Removed by Moderator

To: fatrat
this young lady is being portrayed as a superhero and from the details that have come out so far, i cannot call her a hero. is there any right-thinking soldier who would not "fight to the death" by firing their last round at the enemy before being taken prisoner by an enemy as ruthless as this one? I deeply appreciate her service to our country and wish her the best but, unless some additional details emerge, i see no reason for her to be hailed as a hero.

It is likely that some of the brave people who risked their lives to rescue her from captivity are heroes, and it is very likely that the iraqi citizen that risked his life to provide information which lead to her rescue is a hero.

Well said.

When I first heard of the report of her courageously firing at her would-be captors until she ran out of ammunition, a question popped up as to why would the Iraqis allow her to live after she allegedly blows away some of their finest?

In addition, there are no witnesses to her supposed gallantry, whereas there are millions that witnessed the bravery of those who rescued her.

I wish PFC. Lynch well in her life and thank her for her service, but she is hardly a hero.

39 posted on 04/03/2003 7:07:15 AM PST by A2J (Those who truly understand peace know that its father is War.)
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To: Dower
Hope you're right ... Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross ... she deserves one of them, if this is all true ... and I have no reason to doubt it at this point ... none of this takes away from any of the other heroes, and I am sure they're are plenty ... this episode catches the attention of the public because it portrays the fighting spirit of our young people ...

At best, she deserves the Purple Heart as well as a soon-to-be-created Iraq Campaign medal.

If anyone deserves the awards you've listed, it's those who rescued her.

40 posted on 04/03/2003 7:10:40 AM PST by A2J (Those who truly understand peace know that its father is War.)
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