Jessica Lynch Due Home After Media Hype on Heroism (reality-TV propaganda drama)

Reuters via Yahoo! ^ | 7/22/03 | Deanna Wrenn

[Scenic Sounds]

However, plenty of people have used Pfc. Lynch for their own agendas, both the feminists and those who don't want women in the military. I wish they'd all shut up and leave her alone.

Yes.

I don't know any more than anyone else does about what actually happened that day she received her injuries while she was representing us in Iraq. I do know that her being there for me that day required that she first voluntarily proceed down a long, long corridor full of escape doors, none of which she ever used. So, I have the greatest respect for her and I wish her the very, very best.

Great post, catspaw!

[flutters]

I have only seen her family on television a couple of times, and then they were very humble and did not try to grab glory.

I agree. I'll never forget the look on her father's face when he gave the interview at the airport just before going to Germany and some stupid reporter ask if they heard about other KIA's from Jessica's group. It was heart breaking.

I bet when Jessica makes her first public statement, in about 3 hours, it won't be about her.

[ken5050]

She was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the POW medal. I hope the military has enough documentation to substantiate the Bronze star award..it sound like a PC decoration to me....

[countrydummy]

"Madness"? We should have left her behind? That would have been madness. "Not in danger", oh forgive me! She was in an Iraqi hospital for God's sake! You should have read all the articles before you posted this post!

Hero, yes she is. She is to us West Virginian's and all others that prayed for ALL of the soldiers-----she was an answer to our prayers! She is coming home! And for you to try and belittle her in anyway, much less this arrogant ignorant post is incomprehensible!

[Catspaw]

From what I've been able to gather from a google search on "507th" "bronze star" all members of the unit received the bronze star, including the bronze star being awarded posthumously. Two members of the unit, Sergeant Matthew Rose and Pfc. Patrick Miller received the silver star.

Riley, 507th soldiers get medals for war service

 

507th soldiers describe deadly March ambush

Borderland    Thursday, July 3, 2003

Fort Bliss awards medals to 13 'heroes'

14 soldiers get nation's honors

 

Fort Bliss ceremony includes medals for 507th soldiers

Survivors of lost convoy tell their stories

Small town gathers to pay tribute to Kiehl

[Scenic Sounds]

I hope the military has enough documentation to substantiate the Bronze star award.

That's a hope we share, ken. ;-)

[Catspaw]

Hero, yes she is. She is to us West Virginian's and all others that prayed for ALL of the soldiers-----she was an answer to our prayers! She is coming home!

Yes, she's finally coming home.

She still has a long row to hoe in her recovery, but being surrounded by those who love her will help her enormously.

[ampat]

Once again its the "free press" who should hang for failing to tell the truth, and yes they have an obligation to investigate before they print.

[ken5050]

Thanks for the links..I guess that it's not too much..the Bronze Star...if it provided comfort for the families of the dead soldiers..I believe the BS originally was intended for "meritorious service" on the battlefield...not for just dying, or dying because of a mistake someone made....

[Lunatic Fringe]

Whoa, back the pickup truck a bit!

Noone is suggesting she be "left behind." And no, she was not in danger. She was in an Iraqi hospital, being cared for by Iraqi doctors. They were not torturing her or abusing her.

A hero? No, I dont think so... everyone else in her unit died. A survivor, yes.... hero? no.

And since when is refusing to fawn undeserving praise upon a person equivalent to "belittling"?

[Lunatic Fringe]

No... ANY combat related wound gets you a purple heart. You can get a hangnail on your pinky finger jumping out of a plane and get a purple heart.

[farmfriend]

Would they have gone through all that trouble for a man?

They would in the movies and I hope that they would in real life. But don't get me started. What I have to say about men's rights often gets twisted by others on this forum. Don't get me started about equal pay for unequal risk.

[countrydummy]

I got your pick up truck!

Not in danger, ok you go and be a patient (civilian) in a Iraqi hospital....try being a US military person......and let's see, Newsweek is reporting that Jessica's injuries were from being beaten with rifle butts.....and since you don't think she needs praise for being a survivor and a hero, sure does not make you right. A hero, in the term of dying for her country.....or one of the rescuers.....no, but alive and answer to prays!

[johnb838]

Lynch became a national hero after media reports quoted unnamed U.S. officials as saying she fought fiercely before being captured, firing on Iraqi forces despite sustaining multiple gunshot and stab wounds.

These BASTARDS make up a story, hype it, and then blame the government for it. They need to be held accountable for their lies.

[farmfriend]

A hero? No, I dont think so... everyone else in her unit died. A survivor, yes.... hero? no. And since when is refusing to fawn undeserving praise upon a person equivalent to "belittling"?

Let me dump my two cents in here. We may argue over whether she is deserving of all the media focus but we must remember that they are in the business of selling news. If this is a name that brings attention to the wonderful job our vets are doing then so be it. The people need a focus, a hero to rally around. In this climate of focus on women it is not surprising that the choice was female.

[Timesink]

Reuters hit piece alert!

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[johnb838]

blah, blah, blah. Many of you think you have a legitimate beef here but you just wind up sounding like the women-haters that you are.

[agrandis]

I have a question for all American men. What kind of man thinks it's okay for a woman to represent his country in combat?

[twigs]

She got secret service protection when she was taken to the hospital in Germany... at least from the plane to the ambulance. And I believe she got it again from the ambulance to the plane that brought her back to the US. She's been so heavily protected that I think there's more that we don't know. And I don't know that we need to know more... And no, I don't believe for a minute that her rescue was staged.