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.''
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive veterans of earlier wars and how they were treated and appreciated by this country." - George Washington
God bless all our military men and women. I hope Jessica enjoys her college years and becomes a great teacher.
http://www.defendamerica.mil/index.html You can read about our extraordinary military here. Nobody forced you to read the article about Jessica.
Jessica says that her classmates where 8th graders when she graduated from high school? Well, tell Miss Lynch that I earned my Bachelor of Science degree at the ripe old age of 38.
~Scott~
As far as I'm concerned, she enlisted, she served and she did the best she could. She's an OK soldier and better than many. I hope she has a wonderful life from here on.
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