Former POW Jessica Lynch Honorably Discharged From Army

AP Breaking News ^

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Aug 27, 2003

Former POW Jessica Lynch Honorably Discharged From Army By Allison Barker Associated Press Writer

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Former POW Jessica Lynch, the petite blonde who became a war hero when special forces rescued her from an Iraqi hospital, has been honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, her lawyer said Wednesday. "As of the now, she is not a member of the military anymore," Stephen Goodwin of Charleston said.

Lynch, 20, suffered multiple broken bones and other injuries when her 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah on March 23.

Her rescue on April 1 made a national celebrity out of Lynch, who joined the Army to get an education and become a kindergarten teacher.

She returned home last month to a hero's welcome after a long stay at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the nation's capital. She revisited the hospital for the first time last week for a checkup.

It was during that trip that Lynch was granted a medical discharge, which she had earlier requested, Goodwin said.

Lynch will continue physical therapy at Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital in Parkersburg, where she has been treated since her release from Walter Reed. She can walk with crutches, but is still recovering from her injuries.

She hopes to improve enough to travel to Colorado in November to celebrate Thanksgiving with her fiance, Army Sgt. Ruben Contreras Jr., and his family.

Goodwin said he was not sure if Lynch is receiving medical disability. Calls to the U.S. Army were not immediately returned Wednesday.

AP-ES-08-27-03 1426EDT

This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA1C6MOVJD.html

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[xzins]

Believe it or not, competition is demanding. Physically fit females do better than those who aren't.

I agree in wishing the best for her. I don't agree that she's being muzzled. She's engaged to a soldier and, once married, she will NOT, therefore, be removed from our military community. She'll still be around.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I have absolutely no problem with Lynch (just making sure that's understood, because people often take every comment about this situation to be some sort of criticism of her) - but if you're referring to what I think you are (the "she emptied her weapon and killed Iraqis" lie), she didn't "put up a valiant fight". That was a fabrication by the Washington Post.

[xzins]

Nope, I'm referring to the reports that their weapons kept jamming due to bad oil and sand. Imo, any fight with those conditions is a valiant one.

Vietnam era vets will remember the original M16. It jammed as often as it didn't.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Well, this is from an article by David Hackworth:

The Army's official After-Action Report said she was in a vehicle that crashed while hauling butt trying to escape an enemy ambush. She was knocked unconscious and woke up at a nearby Iraqi hospital receiving special attention from some super-caring Iraqi doctors and nurses.

There's been a lot of conflicting information presented, but at this point, this is what we know.

[#3Fan]

Well thought out, excellent point. Facts supporting. Great debater.

I told you why it was stupid in my post, because you compared two CMOH awardees with a Bronze Star awardee. Did you not read it?

Calm down. . .calm down. . .anyone that disagrees with the Lynch BS somehow has issues?

You're proving you have issues. If you were really concerned about medal awardship, you'd pick a much better example than Jessica because there are some awardees that didn't even see the enemy.

Me? Actually it was the writer of an article.

You posted the article. You agree with the article. It's your post.

Indeed. . .I think I hear them calling for you over at DU. . .better go home.

You have more in common with them. They propagandize against the military also. When you say that the Iraqis treated the POWs with "excellent care", how can you overlook our POWs that were buried in shallow graves outside of that house of torture? It's no different than Captain Dan the newsman hugging Castro even though Castro has killed thousands seeking freedom.

[#3Fan]

I have absolutely no problem with Lynch (just making sure that's understood, because people often take every comment about this situation to be some sort of criticism of her) - but if you're referring to what I think you are (the "she emptied her weapon and killed Iraqis" lie), she didn't "put up a valiant fight". That was a fabrication by the Washington Post.

You said that Gunrunner's post was an "excellent summary". That post said that the Iraqis provided "excellent care". There were POWs found outside a house of torture buried in shallow graves. Is that what you consider "excellent care"?

[FlyVet]

There may be a legitimate reason for her amnesia.

My older brother was critically injured in a car wreck. It was many months before he remembered bits and pieces of it.

One of my co-workers at the time was a volunteer fireman who happened to be on duty that night, and ended up at the accident scene. My brother was up, walking around, talking to him and others, with a broken back and severe concussion. This was back in the late 70's, and my brother remembers none of that.

From watching the interview with the survivors of Lynch's unit on Dateline NBC I think, they said they thought she was dead. The only movement they saw was her foot twitching. She almost died.

Some of the people on this thread sound like she had all this planned out to make some money. Whew. Walk a mile in her shoes.

[#3Fan]

Walk a mile in her shoes.

Just imagine if they had walked in her shoes. If they would've survived they'd be complaining for the rest of their lives to anyone who'd listen. They wouldn't have the humble dignity that Jessica and the other POWs have shown since they're the type to hurl accusations and constantly nitpick, uncalled for on this thread since this thread was simply about her medical discharge. They just couldn't help themselves though. I guess it makes them feel better to put down someone who's been through more than they in the service of their country.

[jaykay]

Yes, she put up a valiant fight to survive her ordeal in that "hospital" and, to their credit, a few members of the hospital staff did try to help her while the facility was still under Fedayeen control, which was right up to the day before her rescue, and they suffered greatly for their complicity. When the truth of what went on there is revealed, which will happen in the near future, I wonder how many of those who are heckling Lynch now will admit that they were wrong? I certainly have better things to do than keep track of all of the Jessica Lynch bashers and their comments just to say "I told you so" in a few months.

[#3Fan]

Yes, she put up a valiant fight to survive her ordeal in that "hospital" and, to their credit, a few members of the hospital staff did try to help her while the facility was still under Fedayeen control, which was right up to the day before her rescue, and they suffered greatly for their complicity. When the truth of what went on there is revealed, which will happen in the near future, I wonder how many of those who are heckling Lynch now will admit that they were wrong?

Don't hold your breath. They're showing the same mindset as liberals who embraced Uncle Joe and Uncle Fidel. Have you ever heard liberals admit that Stalin and Castro were evil?...I never have. Petty agendas over right and wrong, even when it come to those who fight for us. Amazing that it could happen to those on our side, I thought only liberals were capable of that. Not to be a broken record but it just boggles my mind that a guy could post that the Iraqis were administering "excellent care" (and then that guy gets commendations from the others here that is post was excellent) when the bodies of our POWs were buried in shallow graves outside a torture house. That's excellent care?! My face is heating up just posting this and I've already had one post removed from this thread so I better stop here. :^)

I certainly have better things to do than keep track of all of the Jessica Lynch bashers and their comments just to say "I told you so" in a few months.

They'd brush it off and conjure up another petty complaint, so it'd be a lot of work for nothing. I'm glad I'm not the only one that doesn't like this unneeded and uncalled for nitpicking when we should show humble appreciation to those that have sacrificed more than we ever will. Thanks for your posts, they were informative.

[#3Fan]

...a few members of the hospital staff did try to help her while the facility was still under Fedayeen control, which was right up to the day before her rescue, and they suffered greatly for their complicity...

I didn't mean to pass over this. I didn't know there were other Iraqis that helped also and weren't as lucky as the lawyer. When the truth comes out and confirms this, they should be hailed as a group of brave and just heros.

[proud2serve]

Quite interesting, thank you. The AF has made it known about there was indeed a close out date for the Gulf War. Perhaps my branch has made thier own decision on awarding statuses. I'll have to dig a little deeper on that one, it could well affect alot of my troops. Thanks!

[xzins]

You're a solid American, JK. You're willing to support our troops enough to give one of our young troops the benefit of the doubt until the details come out.

Lord knows that she was wounded and beaten. Heaven help me, but I simply cannot understand those who want to snipe at her. She was on our side, For Pete's sake! It's like some folks WANT her to be a failure. And here she is crippled on behalf of this nation.

Xzins
Chaplain (Retired) US Army

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Heaven help me, but I simply cannot understand those who want to snipe at her.

I can't understand why those who merely want to stay in reality about what happened and not romanticize it are considered "sniping at her". I've seen very few people criticize her. I certainly have no problem with Pfc. Lynch - the fact is, I was terribly concerned about her and the others in her unit when they were reported missing, and I was overjoyed when she was rescued and the others were found.

She suffered a terrible ordeal, but the "Rambo" story is a myth. Saying so does not disparage her. The fact that some are concerned about the watering-down of military awards is not a reflection on her either, imo. She doesn't make those decisions.

[xzins]

My definition of "snipe" is to call in question the bronze star, for example. Likewise, there are others who say she isn't really injured when her family says she is.

Those are the things that I consider "sniping."

If the Army awarded her the bronze star, then the Army was satisfied that it was appropriate.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

A lot of people who have served in the military have a problem with the apparent lowering of standards for awards. I'm not going to tell them they can't discuss it here, are you? Generally people don't mean it as a personal thing to disparage Pfc. Lynch, as far as I can tell.

[xzins]

If the comment is "She doesn't deserve it" then it is disparaging of PFC Lynch.

Not to mention the fact that NONE of really have all the details.

I have seen bronze stars given out for just showing up at the war. That was the case in Vietnam for many units, and it was definitely the case for the 101st Airborne in Gulf War I.....I saw that one.

Lynch did more than just show up. It's cost her something.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I have seen bronze stars given out for just showing up at the war.

I'm sure you have, and I think that is the sort of thing people object to. Part of the confusion is that it used to take a lot more than showing up to earn a Bronze Star, and the change in standards is the source of the controversy, imo. It's not a personal problem with Pfc. Lynch. I wish people who think others are "bashing" her merely because they have a different opinion could grasp that.

[xzins]

Like I said, it is "bashing" to question the award of the star to her.

If someone speaks of the standards for awarding the BzS, then it hasn't changed much in the last 40 years. I can't speak to the Korean War or WWII.

The bronze star is in the hands of the 1st general officer in the soldiers chain of command if I remember correctly. In a fighting unit, this would normally be a brigadier general.

Since the criteria for the award are based on words which can be interpreted differently, then you'll find differences across the military in the awarding of the BzS.

Also, there is the BzS for "service" and the BzS for "valor." If Lynch's was for "service," then I have ABSOLUTELY no problem with it. If it was for "valor," then we're dealing with something that's in the eye of the beholder.

We have a man in our church who was a ranger forward observer during the Korean War. He had his unit withdraw, leaving him and his squad behind lines for about a week. It was a harrowing experience during which ordeal he collected 3 purple heart qualifications. His BG was William Westmoreland (who went on to later fame in Vietnam). Westmoreland asked him personally to forego an award for valor (probably a Silver Star) because the Lieutenant who had had the unit withdraw would have had his mistake showcased, and it would have ruined his career....a WestPointer....the long gray line taking care of its own. SGT B agreed and the Lieutenant's career survived.

My point is that we simply don't know what is going on behind the scenes that NEVER gets reported in any official document.

[milemark]

Implying that she doesn't deserve the medals she was awarded is bashing her. Implying that awarding her those medals is "watering them down" is smearing her. Especially since we only know that she is severely injured and we do not really know how she was injured. We have a scenario that she was injured in a vehicle crash. The same report that presents that theory also states that the circumstances are still under investigation, particularly regarding the possibility of war crimes by the Iraqis.