Posted on 08/07/2005 7:34:59 PM PDT by BenLurkin
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) Former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch says she is a bit nervous about starting college this fall, but she doesn't want any special attention.
``I have to say I am a little nervous the freshmen that I'll be with were eighth-graders when I graduated from high school,'' Lynch told Time magazine in an interview for the Aug. 15 issue.
The 22-year-old former Army supply clerk, who now walks with a cane because of her Iraq war injuries, said she wants to blend in as much as possible at West Virginia University in Morgantown.
``It was hard getting stopped all the time when I wasn't used to it. It doesn't bother me now. But I don't want any special attention drawn to me,'' said Lynch, who hopes to become a kindergarten teacher.
Lynch's 507th Army Maintenance Company convoy was in the Iraqi town of Nasiriyah in March 2003 when it took a wrong turn and was attacked. Eleven American soldiers were killed and six were captured, including Lynch.
She suffered two spinal fractures, nerve damage and a shattered right arm, right foot and left leg when her Humvee crashed during the firefight. The story and video of her rescue from an Iraqi hospital under the cover of dark made her an instant celebrity.
Lynch, a native of Palestine, W.Va., said she often thinks about the ambush and of her fellow comrades, including Army Spc. Lori Piestewa, who was killed.
``Last night there were fireworks going off outside our hotel in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. I have to literally see the fireworks,'' Lynch said. ``If I just hear them, they sound a little like gunshots or bombs it kind of puts you back there.''
But that's just me.
"But I don't want any special attention drawn to me"
Stop granting interviews. You'll be a lot more believable.
My best wishes are for her to become whatever she wants, and to live a happy life.
Mark
The rest of us don't mind reading stories about young Americans who served their country.
Welcome to the club Jessica.........sorry ya had to join under such extreme conditions. Good Luck on yer bout with the books now.
Sometimes it's better to grant an interview, rather than be stalked by the press until you do.
Get it over with, yanno?
I think some of our fellow Freepers are showing a lot of "penis-envy" in regards to Ms. Lynch.
How pathetic. I'd expect this rot from a bunch of DUmmies!
Well, I'm quite sure she's harder on herself than you could ever be.
Her best friend was killed, after all, and I specifcally remember her saying she doesn't believe she's a hero at all. That's something the MSM has made of her.
I just wish the press would focus on the real heroes. The ones who...gee whiz...kill the enemy.
Nobody ever made their country safer by being at the enemy's mercy.
Sounds as if your beef is with the media, not Ms. Lynch.
If anything, the media is trying to play her as some sort of victim and she's not playing their game. I give her credit because of that.
Pretty much. I mean, hey, lousy things happen during wartime and what happened to her royally sucked. But why can't the press focus on our troops who are kicking butt and taking names? What could that hurt?
"Stories about women who can't follow a convoy and get captured only to force countless good men to put their lives on the line to fix her mistake just doesn't thrill me at all."
Where'd you hear that story? It was a MAN who couldn't follow a convoy and ended up driving smack dab in the middle of a town filled with Saddam's soldiers. I put no blame on him, because shiite happens in a war...ya know. Ease up on this young lady. She's already made it perfectly clear that she is no hero and looks for no spotlight!
Yeah, seems to me she's trying to get on with her life. If she's planning to become a kindergarten teacher, I think it would be a bit of a stretch to think she's some kind of media hound.
I wonder if she asked the interviewer "How's that Jason Blair guy? I can't really remember his face but he spent so much time down here interviewing us..." ;)
Good, maybe she'll learn some proper English.
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