Lynch Receives Bronze Star Before Homecoming (What for?!!)

KFOXTV.com ^ | 07/22/03 | KFOXTV.com

[Destro]

Lynch Receives Bronze Star Before Homecoming

Pfc. Jessica Lynch is returning home Tuesday, newly decorated for heroism in Iraq.

A member of Ft. Bliss' 507th Maintenance Company, Lynch was captured during the attack on a portion of the unit in Nasiriyah, Iraq on March 23rd. She was rescued from captivity on April 1st.

On Monday, Pfc. Lynch received the Bronze Star for heroism, Purple Heart for being wounded in combat, and P.O.W. Medal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where she has been treated for more than three months. KFOX will have a full report on Private Lynch's homecoming Tuesday night on KFOX News at Nine.

[MEG33]

Others in the unit got bronze stars.

[discostu]

Sgt. Walters got the medal too:
Sgt's Robert Dowdy and Donald Walters were both awarded posthumous Bronze Star's.
http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/2276709/detail.html

[Destro]

See my link @ #76 as to who deserves that medal and who was the real fight top the death soldier in that ambush.

[Burkeman1]

I have heard stories like that as well. If you did a stint in an army hospital for a foot infection or malaria you got a purple heart. These stories are just that- unconfirmed and second hand- but I have heard a lot them.

[Ruth A.]

In the end the reason Lynch got such an inordinate level of attention is that SOMEBODY was going to, she just happened to be the lottery pick.

Furthermore, Pvt. Lynch sure wasn't jockeying for media attention. It was thrust upon her, because some media heads wanted a story. She will not be a Demo-poster child, because that is not who she is. From what I understand, she wants to get back to work.

My husband is in the military (in case anyone wonders), but I seem to be reading a lot of uninformed non-military-serving posts (those who have or are serving and are knowledgable ar quite evident). If you begrudge the star issued or the judgment of those who issued it, get your okole into some branch of military service. You will see that the system isn't perfect; perhaps you will be able to perform better under fire or as a POW. Otherwise, you don't know squat.

[MEG33]

Kudos for your post and gratitude for your service.

[optimistically_conservative]

Sgt. Walters received a Bronze Star. And I agree with PS, is this a matter of envy?

[Destro]

and that means that man's fighting sacrifice was EQUAL to Lynch's act during the attack...sitting in a Humvee?

[Destro]

As I typed before...Because I don't like manipulation of the truth. You may like reality packaged like a Lifetime movie but I don't. Also I only posted 2 total articles on the Bronze Star in regard to Lynch. This and the linked one.

What vested interest makes you want to perpetuate the Lynch myth?

[MEG33]

Bravo!

[Prodigal Son]

See my link @ #76 as to who deserves that medal and who was the real fight top the death soldier in that ambush.

I've already seen and responded on your link. I take your word for it. PFC Lynch in no way deserved this medal. You were there and saw exactly what happened. When you won your own bronze star the standards were much higher. You have every right to complain. (that's sarcasm)

[MEG33]

What vested interest do you have in bellyaching.

[Howlin]

An most excellent reply!

I thank you AND your husband for your dedication to this country. My grandchildren will live free because of your sacrifice.

[Prodigal Son]

You may like reality packaged like a Lifetime movie but I don't. Also I only posted 2 total articles on the Bronze Star in regard to Lynch. This and the linked one. What vested interest makes you want to perpetuate the Lynch myth?

Damn. And I thought this was a unique post to me.

[discostu]

Good point. She was still a POW when the media started obsessing on her. IMHO some in the media go burned by her surviving. I think they were looking for a photogenic innocent girl to get killed in "Bush's war", when she not only survived but got rescued in a big moral building operation it turned out badly for the media.

The medal system certainly is flawed, but those who don't deserve what they get know, and those who deserve what they didn't get know. From the stuff I've read on an emotional level medals go to whole units, everybody takes pride when one of their own gets recognized.

[optimistically_conservative]

What vested interest makes you want to perpetuate the Lynch myth?

I have not perpetuated any myth. I posted the link to the PERSCOM Bronze Star criteria listing meritorious service. I have neither commented on what PFC Lynch did or did not do. I have not commented on what SGT Walters may or may not have done. But I am not so petty as to disparage a fellow combat veteran, and a former POW, over the award of a piece of cloth.

That's my vested interest.

[Destro]

I conserve.

[Prodigal Son]

and that means that man's fighting sacrifice was EQUAL to Lynch's act during the attack...sitting in a Humvee?

Come on Destro. You know this is not true because you realized when you were receiving all your decorations that the actual acts you performed were different from the acts that other soldiers performed to receive the same award. The Army is the one entity that decides (except for the CMH) who gets what and for why. This is the Army's decision. You know better I take it?

[discostu]

Didn't say that. You were acting like he didn't get a medal so she could. That's not the case. They both got medals, IMHO they both earned medals, maybe he earned more and bigger medals and maybe he isn't being properly recognized, but that's not my call to make. Your personal crusade against someone that has honerably served and almost gave the ultimate sacrifice during the conflict is frankly sickening. you needf to get some perspective. She almost died. She still can't walk. More than likely at least one person was killed instantly and never had a chance to even know what was going on, by your disgusting "logic" that person shouldn't get any recognition.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

The Medal of Honor is coming soon.

She's not going to get the Medal of Honor. That is absurd. (People have suggested it, I know, but they are talking out of their butts.)