Posted on 04/03/2003 4:54:16 PM PST by Bella
POW Father Denies Daughter Shot, Stabbed
2 hours, 47 minutes ago
By ALLISON BARKER, Associated Press Writer
PALESTINE, W.Va. - The father of rescued POW Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch said Thursday she was in great spirits following her first surgery and said she had not been shot or stabbed during her ordeal.
"We have heard and seen reports that she had multiple gunshot wounds and a knife stabbing. The doctor has not seen any of this," Gregory Lynch Sr. said. "There's no entry (wounds) whatsoever."
Lynch said his 19-year-old daughter, who is at a military hospital in Germany, had surgery on her back.
"She didn't have any feeling in her feet," he said outside his home in this West Virginia hamlet. More surgery was scheduled for Friday on her fractured legs and right arm, he said.
The family spent several hours with Pentagon (news - web sites) officials discussing her time in Iraq (news - web sites). They hoped to learn more about what happened on March 23, when her 507th Maintenance Company convoy was attacked after making a wrong turn in southern Iraq.
Also waiting for news are family members with loved ones in the 507th, based at Fort Bliss, Texas: Seven soldiers remained missing Thursday, five were listed as prisoners of war and two others were confirmed killed.
The military has said 11 bodies were found during Lynch's dramatic rescue from an Iraqi hospital Tuesday, and some were believed to be Americans.
Gregory Lynch said he had not discussed his daughter's captivity with her during telephone conversations. He and his wife did not immediately elaborate on what they discussed with military officials.
"They have successfully done one surgery on her," he said, smiling as he joked about pink casts for her broken limbs. "There will be other surgeries. It's going to take time and patience. She's in real good spirits."
Lynch, a supply clerk, was rescued from an Iraqi hospital in a daring nighttime raid by U.S. commandos acting on a CIA (news - web sites) tip.
The Washington Post reported Thursday that Lynch shot several Iraqi soldiers during the firefight and kept firing until she ran out of ammunition even after suffering several gunshot wounds. Pentagon officials declined to comment on the report.
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 military's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
Members of the medical crew that accompanied her on the 8 1/2-hour flight to Germany from Kuwait said she appeared clear-headed, smiling and alert, but didn't discuss her plight with them.
"She must be as hard as nails," said Air Force Capt. Shean Galvin.
"She doesn't know what kind of uproar she's caused right now," her brother, Greg Lynch Jr., said. "She's definitely a hero. Whether she realizes it or not — not only to our family, but to the whole nation."
Lynch joined the Army after graduating in 2001. Her brother enlisted the same day, and their 18-year-old sister, Brandi, will report for duty in August.
The family said they are not sure when Jessica Lynch will be flown back to the United States. They decided against a trip to Germany.
"We want that to be on Jessi's terms," her father said. "When she is ready, I'm sure she will let us know and we'll be on the way."
Damn Straight! As well as 250,000 others over in that Golly Green Giant sandbox.
Their mistakes take nothing away from PFC Lynch. She's one tough soldier and has my best wishes.
Yep, this sure is pretty funny, you sick fk. Let's see, her arms have been broken, her legs have been broken, and she underwent one of many operations on her back so she can regain feeling in her feet. Damn, that's one funny event, isn't it. So, in your mirth, why don't you 'think' of what those animals did to a 19 yr old Marine, before they put her on the rack, used pipes to break he limbs, and then worked to break her spine. Sure is funny isn't it. People like you make me sick ... .then again, maybe this is the kind of stuff you enjoy doing to helpless people. This poor girl went through hell. I hope her buddies find the torturer and show him that civilized men can be barbaric too.
Obviously she's injured, but somebody with an agenda is trying to misrepresent what really happened and I don't think it's Jessica Lynch. At least I hope it's not her.
What would you rather hear reported on the Nat'l news?
1) PFC Jessica Lynch is recovering from gunshot and stab wounds
2) PFC Jessica Lynch is having surgery to help heal from the gang rapes, and her arms and limbs set after a torturer broke her bones, and one of many operations to repair her spine, so she can feel her feet.
The 'story' was placed to protect Jessica. The public didn't need to know what was done to a 19 yr old girl. The military released a story that allowed us to understand her need for medical care, but still allowed her some degree of privacy. I think her parents regret saying what they did.
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