The real hero behind the 'bravery' of Private Jessica

The Daily Telegraph ^ | 27/07/2003 | Julian Coman

[CWOJackson]

"I wonder why?"

Because that's what Private Lynch wanted.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Stop posting to me.

[BushCountry]

He forgot to include the cavewomen in the post above. For one, do we know the facts. NO!

So, why begrudge her a medel that 1.1 million armed services personal recieved (with a higher than you might think percentage never seeing combat)?

Now, if you want to argue if women should serve in combat I would be on your side.

[#3Fan]

Was she? What did she do besides get in a car accident? I guess if I were in uniform, I could get a Bronze Star, too.

Yep, get your Humvee shot up by Iraqis, survive a crash that kills 3 people, survive a hospital stay where rifle butts and car batteries are used, bravely face multiple back surgeries and rehab, show humbleness and you could get a Bronze Star. Based on you posts, I think you would fail the humbleness test alone. You'd be shouting from the rooftops how much better you are than everyone else because you were a POW.

[kms61]

It's not right, but neither is it Lynch's or the military's fault. Your beef should be with the media and the public for all that.

[brooklin]

McCain was shot down. There's a difference between crashing a plane and being shot down. Also there is a difference in peoples minds about what constitutes a hero. The bronze star is almost a nothing medal, as commented by some of the other people here. At least she wasn't given a medal of honor.

[Polybius]

The Bronze Star has become over used by most services/units since Vietnam...to the point where is almost like a glorified National Defense Service Medal automatically given after 90 days of service.

And that cheapens the Bronze Stars given out to World War II, Korean War and early Vietnam War veterans.

The Medal of Honor itself underwent such a cheapening process. It was the only medal the U.S. issued during the Civil War. So, it was awarded from everything from great feats of combat heroism to non-combat meritorious service.

However, by the end of the Civil War, the cheapening of the Medal of Honor had progressed to the point that a Medal of Honor was awarded to every single man in the 27th Maine simply for re-enlisting and a Medal of Honor was also awarded to every man who served in President Lincoln's Funeral Honor Guard.

This sorry state of affairs was corrected in 1917 when Congress stepped in, conducted a review of all Medals of Honor that had been awarded and revoked those that had been awarded for less than the new strict criteria.

Although her Medal of Honor was revoked, a Civil War civilian physician, Mary Walker, refused to return her Medal of Honor and continued to wear it. Her Civil War service in no way qualified for the new strict criteria for the Medal of Honor but would have rated something equivalent to the future Meritorious Service Medal (setting aside the fact that she was a civilian).

During the Carter Administration, President Carter reinstated Mary Walker's Medal of Honor. With that return to the Nineteeth Century cheapening of the award, feminists now lionize Mary Walker as "The Only Female Medal of Honor Winner" and even succeeded in having a U.S. Postage stamp issued in her honor.

[#3Fan]

I really do believe you and DOIV are on the same page. She doesn't begrudge Private Lynch the Bronze Star. She did have some earlier reservations but those were pretty much working out on a recent thread much like this one.

She was one of the ones complaining early that Jessica was photogenic and that's why she was getting attention. Why is it that they can't use reason to see that a rescued POW is a big deal and even if that were a male soldier being carried out, we'd be watching him returning home on all the channels instead of Jessica. Plus this CMOH issue is an issue that never had legs and to continually bring it up when no one else is months after it was forgotten is vindictive.

[annyokie]

When did I compare myself the PFC Lynch, a victim of happenstance? I am married to a REAL hero.

[protest1]

I did not actually belittle Jessica. I think others in the convoy deserve a LOT more credit than they have received by comparison with her. For what my opinion is worth I do not grudge her the Bronze Star.

The quotes was in the title of the article. Click on the link to the news site and see for yourself. I don't change things like that. Thought about it, but as I am not the author I do not feel it is mine to change.

I have received a link in one post about Sgt Donald Walters a brave man leaving a wife and children. But if you have to ask do you really think they have been given fair credit? I don't.

[HairOfTheDog]

7 (read: SEVEN) Bronze Stars.

You read! I am not talking about your husband - I am discussing CWOJackson's humility in my post. The one where I compared his humble and gracious attitude to your stink and venom.

[Monster Zero]

Didn't say that it was. For the record, I believe Pvt. Lynch deserves her Bronze star and MAYBE all the attention she's getting, for that matter. (Except for the overture from CBS to PAY her for an interview, which is $#!++y journalism at best - surprise, surprise.) As as been discussed at length on this thread, she damn well did more for the cause than most of us keyboard commandos, speaking for myself.

I just think the MEDIA is selling the other POW's short. Especially Pvt. Johnson is being sold short with all the clamoring over Jessica like she was the only female who was captured and abused when that clearly isn't the case.

What does THE MEDIA have against Pvt. Johnson?

[#3Fan]

So in other words, Pvt. Johnson was given a medal and sent home? No parade? No offer of money from CBS for an interview? No scholarship offer from one of her state U's? No media frenzy? I wonder why?

Could it be she was a lone rescuee in a dramatic raid? Perhaps the first POW rescued since WW2 if I'm not mistaken?

[#3Fan]

Stop posting to me.

I'll post to who I want.

[annyokie]

BFD, he has admitted that he did not earn them, yet he accepted them. What does that say aboout him? A great deal IMO. He is a cheat and cheapens the sacrifice of others.

[#3Fan]

You are totally out of line in denigrating the service of our veterans of foreign wars.

[Monster Zero]

Could be. Like I said, I don't have the right to take anything away from her. (Why are you being so defensive on her behalf, BTW?) I was just asking a question about the other POWs, especially Pvt. Johnson.

[kms61]

A lot of people can't separate McCain the man from McCain the politician. They don't like him politically (maybe with good reason,) therefore his heroism must be a fraud, and must be disparaged at every opportunity. We see some of the same attitudes toward the Kerry's (John and Bob.)

Such attitudes say more about the disparagers than about those they disparage.

[BushCountry]

I like your attitude! :)

Anyways, my login name was derived from the map that doesn't display on your freeper homepage.

[HairOfTheDog]

He is supposed to be humble and not brag. All good heros are humble about recognition they recieve. You, one the other hand are nothing but ugly when you brag about accomplishments of your husband while throwing crap all over the service of other soldiers you don't even know. They are on your damn side in this war.

I have met a lot of bitches in my life Mrs. Okie.... and I am having a hard time thinking of one that measure up to your behavior on this thread.