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.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Actually, I didn't really have any question about the Purple Heart. I believe I understood all that (except for the way they signify being wounded more than once).

I've always understood exactly what it was for.

My dad took a lot of shrapnel and was temporarily paralyzed on Iwo. Interestingly, I had an obnoxious (younger than my dad) uncle who was a career Army man. He used to ridicule my dad's Purple Heart, saying, "Those don't mean anything. They just go through the hospital and toss 'em on all the beds." (My dad, having nearly died on Iwo Jima and being proud of his Purple Heart, did not appreciate those remarks.)

I've heard other people suggest that they don't mean anything anymore, as well.

So no, I wasn't confusing the Bronze Star Medal with anything to do with that.

However, I DID learn something more about it all from you. Thanks. : )

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

In regards your question about frequency of award by the Army, that is most likely due to the comparative size of that service, and direct combat employed personnel, vrs the other branchs.

That's what I was looking for. Thank you again. (You are a veritable wealth of information on this subject. ; )

[MEG33]

Amusing!

[CWOJackson]

My pleasure...remember, where I come from we think the Marine's are far too liberal with medals.

[MEG33]

Your posts are great.Thanks.

[MEG33]

Thank you for all the information.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

; )

I think the anniversary of Doug Munro's death is coming up in a couple of months; I nearly drove out to Cle Elum last September to visit his gravesite. I may just have to do it this year.

[Dianna]

He used to ridicule my dad's Purple Heart, saying, "Those don't mean anything. They just go through the hospital and toss 'em on all the beds." (My dad, having nearly died on Iwo Jima and being proud of his Purple Heart, did not appreciate those remarks.)

How AWFUL! I'd like to think that as soon as those words came out of your uncle's mouth that the entire family disowned him and the men beat him to a pulp. But it sounds like it was said more than once. Infuriating!

[Destro]

I'd like to think that as soon as those words came out of your uncle's mouth that the entire family disowned him and the men beat him to a pulp.

I hope your family doesn't settle disagreements through bloody violence.

[Dianna]

What was her "honorable service"?

Did she show weakness by killing herself rather than live through the experience? Did she give away important information because someone said, "Boo!" to her? Did she turn traitor; offering to fight against her country if only they let her live?

Nope. As far as any of us know she was captured, frightened to death, and still maintained the dignity of a US soldier. That's enough and I thank her for her service.

[MEG33]

You must not be from Texas.Every family has dueling pistols..it's tradition.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Well, this particular uncle was married to my dad's sister, and everyone pretty much just thought of him as a classless jerk...he made rude remarks with alarming regularity. Nothing happened to him, except that no one thought much of him.

I think that Purple Heart meant more to my dad than just about anything else he owned.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I hope your family doesn't settle disagreements through bloody violence.

Mine doesn't, although I wouldn't have minded seeing my dad knock a couple of my uncle's teeth out for that if he had been so inclined. : ) (And Dad could have done it, too, let me tell ya. LOL)

[Squantos]

Thanks for the kind words....I have to watch my spelling.... tyat...???..:o)

Stay Safe , Hope yer days are easy !

[MEG33]

Anyone that knows about the hell that Iwo Jima was is grateful your father survived and honors his sacrifice and service.

[Dianna]

I hope your family doesn't settle disagreements through bloody violence.

No, but my family doesn't toss insults like that either. My husband didn't want to be shot at, so he joined the Navy and was a submariner. There is a certain level of danger to subs, but not exactly a battlefield, you know? But if anyone in my family, none of which have served, dared comment that he were a coward because of it they'd deserve a punch in the nose.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Thank you. (Very proud of him.)

[bdeaner]

You're a waste of human flesh. And the same for the rest of you idiots who are questioning Lynch's medals. How much lower can you people get? You make me sick.

[CWOJackson]

It is well worth the visit. Some of the retired members of the CG Warrants Association make a couple of visits to his grave every year to take care of any work that needs done.

As for visiting, I sometimes go out for the actual ceremony, but I prefer visiting when there isn't a crowd...seems more real that way.

About your Dad and uncle. In some ways I don't think your Father got nearly as wound up over comments trashing the Purple Heart as the rest of you did. Many Purple Heart holders have real mixed emotions about that medal; not the least of which is a level of guilt. When they pin that medal on your pillow you're thinking about your friends who's Purple Heart will be given to their wife or parents; wondering why them and not you, if there was something you didn't do, etc.

Of all the decorations you "earn", the Purple Heart is the great equalizer...it's the same for a general/admiral, a private/seaman...and also the least understood by civilians.

When your uncle made stupid comments about the Purple Heart, not unlike some of the stupid comments I'm seeing on this thread, your father didn't think to himself, "I earned that medal you arse." He was thinking, "Why Ed and not me. He earned it, did I?"

[CWOJackson]

My pleasure.