Posted on 07/22/2003 1:36:56 AM PDT by ex-Texan
Jessica Lynch Awarded Bronze Star
Lynch Gets Medals Ahead of Homecoming
ELIZABETH, W.Va. - Former POW Jessica Lynch was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in Washington Monday as she prepares for her homecoming.
Lynch, who returns to the hills of West Virigina Tuesday, also received Prisoner of War medals at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. The Bronze Star is given for meritorious combat service, a Purple Heart is most often awarded to those wounded in combat, and the POW for being held captive during wartime.
"The Purple Heart ... was not necessarily about being wounded or injured in action initially, but that's what it has come to symbolize," said Lt. Gen. James B. Peake, the Army Surgeon General, in presenting the medals. "It's a special award and not one you choose to get."
Four members of the West Virginia Army National Guard's aviation support unit in Parkersburg were chosen to staff the helicopter that she will ride home in.
"Minus all the hype, this mission is about being able to participate in the homecoming of one of our own," said Chief Warrant Officer Robert McClure, who will co-pilot the Black Hawk helicopter with Chief Warrant Officer Jim McPeak. "It's a real honor."
Lynch, still recuperating from multiple broken bones and other injuries, and her parents are scheduled to fly from the medical center to Elizabeth. The 210-mile trip should last two to three hours, depending on the weather.
Also on both legs of the flight will be Lynch's cousin, Dan Little, a first sergeant in the Parkersburg National Guard unit.
"Jessi trusts him and wanted him to be with her because he's been through most of it with her," said Wyonema Lynch, Lynch's grandmother, noting that Little traveled to Germany when Lynch was recuperating there.
Little, who has spoken twice with Lynch in the past week, said her spirits have been buoyed by her imminent trip home.
"She's a strong, disciplined young lady," Little said. "Her injuries are long healing, and that can be hard if you dwell on it. But she's not allowed that to happen."
With hundreds of news media and others descending on this Wirt County seat of about 1,000 for Lynch's first public comments about her ordeal, area residents have been painting, pruning and preening for weeks.
"We are excited just to see her, just to be able to give her hug. To Jessi, home is in the hills. She has been wanting to get here," her grandmother said.
Regina Ray of Elizabeth said she is glad Lynch is coming home "because there is no place like home to recover."
American flags and yellow bows line the route Lynch's military motorcade will take from Elizabeth to her home in Palestine, a community of about 300 residents some five miles away.
Lynch is scheduled to make a brief statement in Elizabeth before riding in a Ford Mustang convertible in the motorcade.
Lynch's convoy was ambushed near the Iraqi city of Nasiriyah after it made a wrong turn. Eleven soldiers from the convoy were killed and Lynch, a supply clerk, was severely injured.
U.S. forces recovered Lynch at a Nasiriyah hospital April 1. Five other 507th Maintenance Company soldiers who were captured and held apart from Lynch were freed April 13.
The influx of hundreds of visitors, including many journalists here to report Lynch's first public words since her March wounding, capture and rescue in Iraq, is bringing needed cash to Wirt County, which has West Virginia's highest unemployment rate - 15.1 percent.
The economic benefits dampen the annoyance many residents feel at the intense media interest in Lynch.
"They're anxious to see you come, and they'll be anxious to see you leave," said Keith Burdette, Gov. Bob Wise's legislative liaison and the county's former state senator.
Also on the flight will be the crew chief, Sgt. 1st Class Vernon Cosner of Washington, and flight medic, Sgt. Paula Tucker of Morgantown.
When I worked at the Kennedy Space Center, our group secretary was awarded the Silver Snoopy - for being a good secretary (which she was). That particular award was originally given by the astronauts themselves to someone who exhibited exeptional performance regarding flight safety - saved a mission or something like the mission controllers for Apollo 13 did.
Now they give them out like party favors (to women and minorities - white males need not apply) that did nothing at all to deserve that kind of award.
I guess that's why I'm overly skeptical of this kind of stuff.
Petty, childish jealousy.
The frequency of the awarding of this decoration has been on the increase since Vietnam. It means virtually nothing today.
The DOD took the black beret away from the Rangers and gave it to anyone. And there was talk after the Lynch rescue of awarding her the Medal of Honor in some sick, real-life, life-imitates-art perversion of Courage Under Fire.
Just another indication of dumbing down the standards of excellence to enhance everyone's self-esteem.
Napoleon.
A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.
OK, well, if you say so...
If you've earned one, or a higher award, fine - otherwise your comment means "virtually nothing".
During WWII, women operated with great distinction as intelligence agents in the field (i.e. spies). Many were tortured, raped and killed. Why is it assumed that a woman who is raped is worse than a man who is brutalized? Those who are dwelling on the "possible rape" scenario are IMHO experiencing some perverse enjoyment, along the lines of "that's what those women deserve for having dared enter a man's military." Sick. Really sick.
I'm not sure what I said that would make you think I disputed her award of the POW medal
So do you. I'd be interested to know if, as a homeschool mama, you approve of the way public schools pass everybody, and award all the kids dubious awards for simply being there, rather than for achievement above and beyond their other classmates. It relates to this issue.
You've said over and again that she got medals based on her being a cute white woman. You have issues with white women? Or women in the military in general?
http://www.southjerseynews.com/issues/july/m070303g.htm
I've seen some 50 different individuals receive the Navy's Legion of Merit, some 2nd and 3rd awards, but I still can't tell you what they did to get them. I do know that they deserved them however.
It's quite clear that I was talking about the bronze star. So take a deep breath and relax. Also, if you bother to read the thread you will see that I have recanted my belief that she should not get it, as FReepers have demonstrated that in fact they give out bronze stars like candy.
We have NO idea exactly what transpired when Lynch was held as a POW. We DO know her injuries are severe and that most likely she was tortured in a horrendous way. We've have to wait and learn more, won't we? So perhaps your tune will change when the whole story comes out some day, hmmmm?
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