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.
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.
You are confusing skill level and duty assignment with heroism. The soldier fought bravely and with honor, that is all that matters.
Do you honestly believe that she is to be considered a "hero" among the likes of those who have won the Congressional Medal of Honor, especially those who were so honored posthumously?
We have downgraded the meaning of "hero" as one who dies in a horrible act of terrorism (9/11) or one who survives a terrible situation (Lynch) and in so doing, we have offended the memories and deeds of those who are truly heroes.
Even if she did all that is claimed, she would only be a soldier, not a hero.
As a soldier, she is to fight the enemy even to her death, which is her DUTY. She deserves the honor of being a true patriot and soldier, but a hero is one who does ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS REQUIRED.
Where has she done that?
In addition, there are no witnesses to her supposed gallantry, whereas there are millions that witnessed the bravery of those who rescued her."
All you are doing is questioning the story. The fact is that ~4-5 were shot in the forehead at the site. The rest were taken and all tortured. They still haven't found some. If not for the intel from the Iraqi citizen, she would still be held, unfed and tortured as they saw fit.
She fought with bravery and honor, that is what counts. It does not matter what her assignment was, only that she performed her duty in an exemplary fashion as the facts, so far indicate.
Agreed.
All that is required for one to be considered a true soldier and patriot is for one to fight bravely and with honor.
But for one to be a hero, he/she must have gone beyond the minimum demands of being a patriot.
This seems fishy because of the debate of whether women should be in combat situations. I wouldn't be surprised if this was cooked up by NOW or some other liberal group intent on keeping women on the front lines.
She survived with bravery and honor, but we do not really know whether she "fought" with such.
And what "facts" have there been except for her words?
All I'm saying is that before we pin the CMH or Silver Cross, et al, on her chest we must, out of respect of those who truly deserved them, investigate her claims.
She should be honored for surviving the horror that she suffered, but to make her out to be something she may not be is unfair to those who are true heroes.
Where has she done that?
She joined the US Army, MOS supply clerk, fought bravely and with honor. She is someone others can find considerable worth as a role model.
Good grief. We have room for many heros in this country. For her to be a hero to some does not threaten you or your heros.
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