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.

[ohioWfan]

What is your inside source that proves to you that her receiving this medal is in any way related to the media coverage that she has actually tried to avoid?

As an objective observer, I must say that your pettiness and emotional outrage at this are quite remarkable.

[jackbill]

Read the citation and we'll find out why.

Take my word for it. You will never, ever see the citation.

[johnb838]

She has been a class act throughout this entire saga. Just a good little soldier trying to do her duty, and whether anybody thinks she deserved the medal or not, if ANYBODY hurts that little girls' feelings over it, I say they ought to be ashamed of themselves. We need more girls like Jessie.

[jackbill]

Well, since the majority of her injuries were inflicted by Iraqi soldier's rifle-butts in torture

And you know all of this from . . . .?

[Danette]

This same topic was discussed at DUh.

They, of course, hate the fact that she was even on their television today. They did not think she deserved the medal.

Maybe those complaining can join the nuts over there and whine together. You can also complain on how the bros were "murdered" today.

Have a great day.

[jackbill]

You are right. She did not get the "V". I thought this was going happen. Some thought it should have been a Silver Star.

For what?

[Drew68]

Thanks. Unfortunately, my .pdf reader isn't working right now so I can't read the actual report.

I was able to find this from the "Arizona Republic" dated July 10th Army releases report on Iraqi ambush that states:

The report concludes that "although all details of the battle could not be determined with certainty, it is clear that every soldier did their duty."

But it also acknowledges that it leaves many questions unanswered.

"In particular," the report states, "in order to ensure the integrity of war crimes investigations, this report does not address in detail the conduct of the Iraqi combatants during the battle, provides only a brief description of the death or wounding of each U.S. casualty, and does not address Iraqi treatment of U.S. soldiers held captive.

"All of these are matters under separate investigation."

This last sentance leads me to believe that further reports will be forthcoming.

[Destro]

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

[Tailgunner Joe]

Take my word for it. You will never, ever see the citation.

You said it. We'll probably never even know if she got the V-device or not.

[tet68]

She wears the CIB does she not?
That is all I need to know.

In any event, we all know that most times those who really
deserve don't have witnesses, or don't have an officer willing to go to bat for them.

Destro needs to take a breather, let her enjoy this moment,
her life has been forever changed and who knows how it will end.

[Drago]

It is here in MS Word .doc and Adobe .pdf:
http://www.army.mil/features/507thMaintCmpy/
Short version...Pfc. Lynch was riding in a HMMWV and got into a serious accident and was captured.

[jackbill]

You said it. We'll probably never even know if she got the V-device or not.

She obviously didn't get the "V" for valor, or it would have been all over the media. Also, from looking at the video of her appearance today, it didn't look like a "V" was on the ribbon. Since the Bronze Star is the highest "award" that she got, it is in the upper left of the ribbons on her uniform, when looking at her.

As a Korean veteran, I view the Bronze Star as little more than a Commendation Medal, unless it has the "V". That's one of the things that has bothered me since my service time. Why don't they separate the two awards? Most people (and all of media) assume that all Bronze Stars are equal. THEY ARE NOT.

[Prodigal Son]

Destro it's not like there's only one Bronze Star in the whole Army. It's not like if the Army decides to give Lynch a Bronze Star they can't give it to any one else. You already know this. You have a bronze star and it has been awarded to others as well. What's your beef? Are you going to start posting threads complaining about every single citation awarded to soldiers? Am I going to have to defend my medals and citations on one of your threads one day? This is personal with you man. What's the deal with this?

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Probably for the same reason John McCain received all his medals. She's just as deserving as he was.

[scannell]

I believe you statement of qualification may be incorrect. If someone dies and otherwise qualifies for the Purple Heart, they get that too. So therefore it couldn't be a congratulations for not getting killed.

[optimistically_conservative]

She wears the CIB does she not?

Actually, she does not. The award of the Combat Infantryman Badge is restricted to specific infantry and SF military occupational skills - Lynch does not qualify.

In any event, we all know that most times those who really deserve don't have witnesses, or don't have an officer willing to go to bat for them.

Our joke was you only got a medal if you screwed up - otherwise you were never there.

[xlib]

I have heard that during Viet Nam medals were handed out like candy to troops for service that would have not merited a medal in previous wars. Has there been a "lowering of the bar" in awarding medals in the military?

Don't know about that, but Bill Mauldin did a famous cartoon in WWII showing Willie (or Joe, maybe) standing in front of a medic's table. On the table is a stack of boxed medals, and Willie's saying to the medic: "Just gimme a couple aspirin. I already got a Purple Heart."

[semaj]

I raised the same question to some friends. I have nothing against PFC Lynch and wish her the best, but awarding her the Bronze Star for running into the back of a tractor trailer and living to talk about it is not my idea of uncommon valor. The decision to award her the medal is totally improper and politically motivated.