First Girl Lost in War

The Sun ^ | 24 March 2003 | Will Barker

[Plainsman]

A PRETTY 19-year-old country girl who joined the US Army to escape unemployment was feared to be the first woman soldier to die yesterday.

Blonde Jessica Lynch was among 12 soldiers in a US supply convoy ambushed by Iraqi troops. Her parents were left weeping like others in America and Britain as more Coalition victims of the war were identified.

Supply clerk Jessica was feared dead after five survivors from the ambush were paraded before Iraqi TV cameras in sickening footage beamed around the world on Sunday.

Also shown were the bodies of the other seven members of the 507th Maintenance Co convoy, but Jessica’s parents could not identify her among them.

Her father Greg Lynch said: “The only thing they can tell us is she’s missing.

“I just want them to bring her back safely — her and all the rest of the kids.”

Private Jessica — known as Jessie — only joined up because she could not find a job in her farming community home town of Palestine, West Virginia.

Lorene Cumbridge, a 62-year-old cousin, said: “She’s just a West Virginia country girl. Warm-hearted. Outgoing. I really thought growing up she would become an elementary school teacher.

Missing ... supply clerk Jessica

But for West Virginia children in some of the more rural areas, the military is the one good chance of getting an education and making something of themselves.”

Lack of jobs and the military service of her older brother, Gregory Lynch Jr., led Jessica into the Army, her father said.

She signed up before graduating from Wirt County High School in Elizabeth, where she played basketball and softball.

Greg said: “The Army offered a good deal.” Jessica’s brother is stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Locals have been supporting Greg, Jessica’s mother Deidre, and her 17-year-old sister, Brandi Renee.

A yellow ribbon was tied to a tree near the family’s mailbox and two others were attached to posts on the front porch.

[wardaddy]

Notice how no one wishes to engage your very real proven concerns with this fantasy.

[wardaddy]

Wrong....the Israelis stopped using women in front line troops nearly 2 decades ago.

[farmfriend]

I stand corrected on that point. Anything else?

[Scully]

I know I'll get flamed for this, but IMO young women do not belong on the battlefield. Teach 'em everything they need to know about killing in self-defense, arm 'em to the teeth, but good Lord, our fellas have enough to worry about as it is, they do not need to be worried about a female fellow soldier falling into enemy hands.

Unless of course you are talking about a group of PMS-afflicted, perimenopausal women...like me. WE could take out Saddam all by ourselves. ;^)

[grania]

I pray that the Iraquis are smart enough to realize that if they treat their female captives well, take them out of harms way but to a place they don't want to have bombed, the worldwide positive PR will be immense. Perhaps these women could live in the Muslim tradition while held in Iraq.

I would like to point out that women have always been among war casualties, only they would be serving as nurses, etc. There are countless stories of women soldiers throughout history...think Joan of Arc for starters.

It still stinks, the loss of our finest citizens, most willing to defend their country and their values.

I pray for her safety and the safety of all children, on both sides of the conflict.

[hotpotato]

"There's a reason why she wasn't among the five shown alive, or among the seven bodies. And I don't even want to say it."

From the article:

Blonde Jessica Lynch was among 12 soldiers in a US supply convoy ambushed by Iraqi troops.

Well, if she wasn't among the seven dead or among the five shown alive, then my math says she must be among the figments of someone's imagination. Who besides the Sun says she exists and who said she wasn't among the dead if she did exist?

Yeah, women are taking quite a chance joining the service:

Gulf war vet executed for rape and murder of female soldier

Air Force Academy Shame

Women should really just stay at home! Wait a minute... that's even less safe:

"Women are five to eight times more likely than men to be vicitmized by an intimate partner."

Hmmm.... seems like nowhere is safe for a female.

btw, the female soldier was not combat. She was maintenance. Count me (a female) among those that considers this article as sensational tripe that worked. That soldier (if she existed) deserved far better.

[Knuckle Sandwich Combo]

THE STOCKHOLM SYNDROME.

[Knuckle Sandwich Combo]

Any doubt what fate awaits her in the hands claws of the Islamo-fascists?

[Under the Radar]

Go ahead and flame me, but, this kind of cheap sentimentality is the reason that GIRLS should not be in the Service.

I agree.

It is interesting to note the use of the term "girl" to describe this 19 year-old woman. Usually the press is crucified for this kind of "slip" but I imagine that no feminist will protest. Call it a hunch...

[not-an-ostrich]

Foxnews.com lists names of 3 missing from convoy. Jessica Lynch, another female-Lori Piestewa, and Brandon Sloan. They must have a good idea of the names of the four dead soldiers displayed.

[Under the Radar]

You know, the same people who are pushing to see women serve in combat wouldn't treat their livestock or pets this way. Ask any breeder whether they will endanger the lives of their females over their males and they will laugh at you. It is so very sad that we have less interest in the future of our people than we do in the animals in our lives. One of the biggest problems that Americans face is self-loathing, which is exemplified by the contempt with which we regard the mothers and future mothers in our society.

[Under the Radar]

LOL, so true!

[Under the Radar]

Excellent post! Very well said, sir.

[GreyWolf]

Go ahead and flame me, but, this kind of cheap sentimentality is the reason that GIRLS should not be in the Service. Truer words were never spoken. She should never have been allowed to be there. A combat area is no place for women, in any capacity, at any time.

I would add: especially in a country where women are not considered part of the human race but rather exist only in the capacity to serve and cater to the overly dominant male population.

[tm22721]

Iraqis know better than to show a picture of a captured or dead US female soldier on TV.

The Marines would be in Baghdad within the hour and there would be 75,000 dead RG soldiers lining the roads.

BUMP

[Teacher317]

Women should not be placed in harms way like this. I think they should only serve in the rear areas.

A resupply unit isn't rear-ward and non-combat enough? What unit would be, then?

[The FRugitive]

Stateside duty. Or something in an established base.

Not driving through a war zone.

[Under the Radar]

And standards should not be lowered to include women. Never. But women should not be kept out because men feel this need to protect them.

So which is it? Do you want women to serve in the military or not? Either you lower the standards or women won't make the cut. It's that simple. Yes, you can find notable exceptions, but they are just that-- women who deviate so far from the mean that they are worthy of comment. If you think that the 5 or 10 freaks of nature to be found who could actually compete physically with men head to head justifies building separate facilities for women, then you truly are a liberal.

[Under the Radar]

It is not OK for six guys to die protecting a women. And we are wrong for perpetuating the notion that men are the protectors and should die protecting women. It's disgusting.

You are 18, aren't you?

[Thinkin' Gal]

Women do not belong in combat; it's a cultural abomination. That said, God bless her and her family... she died honorably and bravely in the service of her country. Contrast this young woman's sacrifice, to the vain death of that ignorant, narcissistic commie peacenik, who was deluded into playing chicken with a bulldozer, as if such stupidity was in any way meaningful or brave.