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To: TomServo
POW Father Denies Daughter Shot, Stabbed

By ALLISON BARKER

.c The Associated Press

PALESTINE, W.Va. (AP) - The father of rescued POW Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch said Thursday that she was in great spirits following her first surgery and denied reports she was shot and stabbed during her captivity in Iraq.

``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.

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 the family's home in this West Virginia hamlet. More surgery was scheduled for Friday on her fractured legs and arm, he said.

The family spent several hours with Pentagon representatives discussing her ordeal in Iraq. They hoped to learn why the 507th Maintenance Company convoy made a wrong turn in southern Iraq on March 23 and was attacked.

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 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. ``There will be other surgeries. It's going to take time and patience. She's in real good spirits.''

Lynch was rescued from an Iraqi hospital in a daring nighttime raid by U.S. commandos acting on a CIA tip.

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.

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.''

The family has decided not to fly to Germany since Lynch was expected to be flown to the United States as soon as she is stabilized.

25 posted on 04/03/2003 1:35:00 PM PST by JohnHuang2
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To: JohnHuang2
"The family has decided not to fly to Germany since Lynch was expected to be flown to the United States as soon as she is stabilized."

One wonders how much time she will have to spend at Walter Reed before release.
50 posted on 04/03/2003 1:52:22 PM PST by Spirited
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To: JohnHuang2
Odd, why not fly to Germany to see her?

82 posted on 04/03/2003 2:14:21 PM PST by mabelkitty
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