Posted on 04/06/2003 5:08:10 AM PDT by kattracks
Family of Rescued POW Arrives in Germany
By JOSEPH COLEMAN .c The Associated Press
LANDSTUHL, Germany (AP) - The American POW rescued by U.S. commandos in a daring raid in Iraq was reunited with her family Sunday at a U.S. military hospital in Germany.
``I can't wait to see her,'' Pfc. Jessica Lynch's mother, Deadra Lynch, said before leaving for Germany. Lynch's father, two siblings and a cousin also flew over from West Virginia.
Their meeting comes a day after the family learned that eight members of Lynch's unit, the 507th Maintenance Company, were killed in the same ambush that resulted in her capture. Among them was Lynch's friend and former roommate, Pfc. Lori Piestewa, who became the first American servicewoman killed in the war.
The Lynch family got word of the deaths Saturday just before boarding a plane in Charleston, W.Va.
``Our hearts are really saddened for her other troop members and the other families,'' Lynch's father, Gregory Lynch Sr., managed to say before choking up.
There was no immediate word about Sunday's reunion.
Piestewa was a member of the Hopi Tribe, whose reservation is near the Navajo Reservation community of Tuba City, Ariz. She was a 23-year-old single mother raising a 4-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl.
``Our prayers are with the Lynch family,'' said Wayne Taylor Jr., chairman of the Hopi Tribe. ``We thank God that she survived her ordeal. Her bravery speaks volumes of her character and we wish her a continued speedy recovery.''
Lynch, a 19-year-old supply clerk, was rescued Tuesday from a hospital in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah by a team of Navy SEALs, Marine commandos, Air Force pilots and Army Rangers.
The commandos found her after an Iraqi lawyer saw Lynch being slapped by a security guard in the hospital, and alerted U.S. forces.
While troops engaged the Iraqis in another part of the city, the rescue team persuaded an Iraqi doctor to lead them to Lynch.
Lynch, who'd been held since a week earlier when her unit was ambushed, had a head wound, an injury to her spine, and fractures to her right arm, both legs, her right foot and ankle.
The commandos who rescued Lynch also unearthed nine bodies from a nearby burial site, eight of whom were identified as members of Lynch's unit.
The ninth was a soldier from a forward support group of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division. All have been transported back to the United States.
Lynch had a back operation Thursday and surgery for other broken bones Friday, according to the commander of the hospital, Col. David Rubenstein. Lynch's family has said doctors reported she'd been shot.
Since her rescue, movie offers and proposals for book deals have been poring in.
But the Lynches have been cool to the outside offers, which they have referred to as ``moneymaking schemes,'' instead professing their gratitude for the support they have received from the community, veterans and others.
``That's the best support,'' said her brother, Greg Lynch Jr. ``People who don't want to give nothing and don't want nothing in return. All they want to do is come up and say 'We appreciate what you're going through.' Those are the people we don't turn away.''
04/06/03 07:59 EDT
Lynch's family has said doctors had determined she'd been shot. They found two entry and exit wounds "consistent with low-velocity, small-caliber rounds," her mother has said.
Now this is how good cop/bad cop should work.
Wooncha' just love to know what the 'persuasion' was?
If they try to make political hay out of this gesture, may it backfire with extreme prejudice.
Anybody seen that great cartoon of Jessica "Back On Duty!"?
Sure did, and lmao. That would be bunker spooges' mouthpiece (Baghdad Bob)'s worst nightmare (Bunker spooge is most likely going through his as we speak, eternally)...
the infowarrior
Piestewa was ... a 23-year-old single mother raising a 4-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl.
It's insane for this woman to have been allowed in the military, a product of runaway politcal correctness. Who took care of her kids while she was on duty? Who'll take care of them now? (As if I don't know the answer.)
...were killed in the same ambush that resulted in her capture. Among them was Lynch's friend and former roommate, Pfc. Lori Piestewa, who became the first American servicewoman killed in the war.
Piestewa was a member of the Hopi Tribe, whose reservation is near the Navajo Reservation community of Tuba City, Ariz. She was a 23-year-old single mother raising a 4-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl.
Insane why? Because she was a single parent or because she was a woman?
Because she's was a single mother. Other people were required to serve, at least indirectly, in order to allow her to serve. And now that she's sadly been killed, others will be required to continue this service for at least 15 years.
On another thread I wrote, "I think there are plenty of places in the military where women can serve admirably but a combat position is not among them."
And the same would hold true if she were married. As well, there's been no mention (that I've seen) as to whether or not she was a custodial parent or not. Seeing as how there are rules and regs put in place regarding custodial single parents enlisting, there's a good chance that she wasn't.
BTW, single dads with should not be allowed either. Same reason.
You might want to expand that to dual military families as well. I saw plenty of that while I was in the service - both parents in the military with dependent children.
I mean, really! Some people have no tact, no diplomacy, no respect for the dead...and yet they insist they're the decent ones.
Perhaps both parents should never be in the same place at the same time either... never ride in the same car or go on trips together. It isn't necessary. If one parent is a cop, fireman, soldier, pilot, midnight convenience store clerk or other dangerous job, the other parent should be kept in a safe house.
My point is, in life, especially in the lives of people who choose to forego comforts for adventures and great deeds, like serving in the military, there are risks. That doesn't mean only those who take no risks should breed, nor does it mean only those who have no one waiting for them back home should be allowed to serve. Families, and countries, live through these losses. We mourn them, but we respect lives that push the envelope. Especially those with a lot to lose.
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