McGraw: Lynch should be given Congressional Medal of Honor

Parkersburg News and Sentinel ^ | April 12, 2003

[flutters]

West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Warren McGraw is sending letters to President Bush and the state's congressional representatives to encourage the awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor to Pfc. Jessica Lynch, the 19-year-old former prisoner of war from Palestine.

"It's clear to me that she demonstrates the characteristics of an American hero," McGraw said.

Lynch, a supply clerk with the 507th Maintenance Company, was rescued April 1 from a hospital in Nasiriyah. She had been taken prisoner March 23 after her convoy took a wrong turn and was ambushed by Iraqi forces.

Reports said Lynch fired on her attackers and fought fiercely before being captured.

She has been treated for a head wound, injury to her spine and fractures to her right arm, both legs and right foot and ankle.

"It's just absolutely heart-stopping," McGraw said.

"It brings tears to my eyes every time I hear a story about it."

"While many others have served with great honor and distinction in our struggle in Iraq, I believe that the bravery shown by Pfc. Lynch and the impact her conduct had upon the morale of our troops and the mood of our nation qualifies her for this high honor," said McGraw.

The Medal of Honor was made a permanent decoration by Congress in 1863. It is the "highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States," according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

More than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been presented, according to the U.S. Army.

Only one woman has ever been awarded the Medal of Honor. Mary Walker, the first American woman to be a military doctor and a prisoner of war, received the medal in 1866 for her service during the Civil War.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

The media has passed on a real great story about the Lt. who had the incredible presence of mind to order his platoon to kneel and point their weapons toward the ground in a brilliant act of showing the Iraqi mob that the soldiers had no intention of damaging their Mosque.

Did you notice President Bush recognized him in his radio address this morning?

[SamAdams76]

I don't know what McGraw's political bent is (liberal or conservative) but I expected some liberal Democrat to propose just this thing to put President Bush on the spot. That way, if President Bush awards the medal, he takes heat from the right for caving in to political correctness and "watering down" what a Medal of Honor should mean. On the other hand, if Bush does not award the medal, he takes heat from the left for "not wanting to recognize the bravery of a woman."

I think PFC Lynch deserves the accolades she is getting for having survived her experience. But Medal of Honor material she clearly is not. That's no slam on her of course, there are 200,000+ other soldiers male and female who will not be coming out of this war with the MOH. That does not mean that none of them were brave or worthy of our highest respect. It's just that the MOH should only be bestowed upon those who exhibit the "highest possible" levels of bravery beyond the call of duty.

Actually a better case could be made for those who actually got her out of that hospital/prison.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

I suggest you lobby your Congressional Representative or Senator, not me.

[Dog Gone]

Private Lynch will be amply compensated and recognized. She will sell her book and movie rights for millions of dollars.

She will also get the military medals to which she is entitled, but it won't include the CMOH.

[cynicom]

Recall the medals that Bush gave the Navy people that allowed their aircraft to be taken by the Chinese.

[Mike Darancette]

BENAVIDEZ, ROY P - And that is who is awarded the CMOH

This is one of my favorites. Though laudable, I don't think that Lynch comes to this level. Silver Star.

[Polybius]

I suggest you lobby your Congressional Representative or Senator, not me.

I'm not "lobbying" you or anybody else. I am simply relating the Civil War era history of the Medal of Honor and the history of the circumstances of it's award to Mary Walker for the benefit of the readers of FreeRepublic.

If it is of interest to you, fine. If it's not, that's fine too.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I believe the current theory is that she was hung up by her arms and beaten with a metal pipe, breaking her legs and fracturing her spine. Typical Iraqi interrogation technique.

[thedugal]

MoH is for what you do, not what is done to you.

She is alive, and her comrades are all dead. I have read a lot of MoH citations, but I have never heard of a single one that ended like that. In fact, the vast majority are when the recipient is dead, and all of his comrades are alive.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

You nailed it.

[flutters]

The Medal of Honor is the highest medal awarded by the United States. It has only been awarded 3,428 times in the nation's history. Below is an excerpt of the Army regulation that describes the eligibility criteria for award of the Medal of Honor...


a. The Medal of Honor [Army], section 3741, title 10, United States Code (10 USC 3741), was established by Joint Resolution of Congress, 12 July 1862 (amended by acts 9 July 1918 and 25 July 1963).


b. The Medal of Honor is awarded by the President in the name of Congress to a person who, while a member of the Army, distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing 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 deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his comrades and must have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of the service will be exacted and each recommendation for the award of this decoration will be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Were there any? I have no recollection of that. I just remember people who were relieved to get the hell out of there (and being relieved for them).

[cynicom]

All 24 got medals. The pilot got a DFC.

[longtermmemmory]

don't pow's get a medal anyways. A medal yes, THE medal? respectfully, no.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Hogwash. Why did you fail to mention that Walkers' Medal was restored by Carter if you aren't lobbying? Posting other citations shows that you are being disingenuous in your denial. How about taking up the cause of a real outrage and getting many if not all of Chesty Pullers' five Navy Crosses upgraded to Medals of Honor.

[Let's Roll]

I don't know what the criteria are, but last night there was a thread on FR that had her doctors saying she can't remember what happened. The only other sources for her fighting until her weapon was empty are "unnamed officials" and "government reports". It's beginning to sound as if these "reports" were floated by someone with an agenda - probably that women belong in combat.

If it turns out to be true - great, but let's not push for something this indefinite until we know. It only cheapens the CMoH - that can't be allowed to happen.

[centexan]

Thanks! I was looking for Sgt. Benavidez's bio when you posted it. I met him and heard him tell the story twice. What a great man and hero.

[Walkin Man]

I can see her getting some type of combat medal, she fought bravely and survived torture as a POW, but the MoH?

I think some people with an agenda are behind this.

[wi jd]

How about a medal of honor for this guy?

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Andrews Air Force Base, Md., May 18, 2001 — Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld looks on as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Henry H. Shelton salutes Lt. Shane Osborn, pilot of the EP-3E that collided with a Chinese fighter jet on Mar. 31 over the South China Sea. Lt. Osborn was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) in an awards ceremony during the opening of annual Armed Forces Day celebration at Andrews Air Force Base. Senior Chief Aviation Machinist's Mate Nicholas Mellos (right) received the MSM for his leadership of the crew during the crew's emergency landing and subsequent detainment by the People's Republic of China, and the remaining 22 members of the crew each received the Air Medal. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Bob Houlihan. [010518-N3783H-001]

EP-3E crew receives medals at Armed Forces Day ceremonies