[Commander8]

She is definately in my prayers.

[exsolus]

damn shame

[Poohbah]

Notice the slant...she wasn't actually serious about going to war, she was just looking for a job, and that EE-VIL Dubya MURDERED HER!

F***ing press makes me want to vomit.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Jessica Lynch, shown in this Sept. 2000 photo, is one of several missing soldiers after a supply convoy was ambushed in southern Iraq (news - web sites), her father said Monday, March 24, 2003. Lynch, 19, of Palestine, W.Va., is a supply clerk with the Army's 507th Maintenance Co. (AP Photo/Family Handout) - Mar 24 6:06 PM ET

	Jessica Lynch, seen in this undated photo, is one of several missing soldiers after a supply convoy was ambushed in southern Iraq (news - web sites), her father said Monday, March 24, 2003. Lynch, 19, of Palestine, W.Va., worked as a supply clerk with the Army's 507th Maintenance Co. (AP Photo/Family Handout) - Mar 24 6:08 PM ET

[BradyLS]

Supply Clerk Jessica... First "girl" lost in war.

I'm damn sorry this happened, but describing this brave woman in uniform this way is doing NOBODY any favors.

[Texas_Jarhead]

...

[nhoward14]

Of course, I would prefer to use the word "soldier" where the term "girl" is located. She ceased being a "girl" when she entered the service.

[PresbyRev]

Mountaineers are always free! Bump and prayers for Jessica and her family.

[MattAMiller]

First Girl Lost in War

I prefer the term "Female Solider" myself.

[The FRugitive]

Women should not be placed in harms way like this. I think they should only serve in the rear areas.

Right or wrong, sorry, I find this more disturbing then loosing then loosing a man. Especially think if our women are captured...with Iraqis rape machine...

Prayers for the Lynch family...

[TADSLOS]

The same liberal media that focuses stories on feminizing the military has now turned this soldier into their poster girl victim of the Bush Administration's war with Iraq. Pretty damned disgusting.

[goodnesswins]

eff the N.O.W. They have HER blood on their hands.

Prayers for her family and all the other soldiers lost or missing.

[FITZ]

after five survivors from the ambush were paraded before Iraqi TV

One of those survivors is also a "girl" --- at least they were survivors when paraded before Iraqi TV. Who knows what is happening to her and maybe she's been killed too by now ---that one is the mother of a 2-year old. You have to wonder if women should be in combat.

[Porterville]

Maybe this will change your mind about women in war, it changed mine.

In the beginning of the America we know there was a Revolution. And although the call to arms was for men, several women donned the uniform of a Revolutionary soldier and fought against the British. One of these women was:

DEBORAH SAMSON** In October of 1778 Deborah Samson of Plymouth Massachusetts disguised herself as a young man and presented herself to the American army as a willing volunter to oppose the common enemy. She enlisted for the whole term of the war as Robert Shirtliffe and served in the company of Captain Nathan Thayer of Medway, Massachusetts.

For three years she served in various duties and was wounded twice - the first time by a sword cut on the side of the head and four months later she was shot through the shoulder. Her sexual identity went undetected until she came down with a brain fever, then prevalent among the soldiers. The attending physician, Dr. Binney, of Philadelphia, discovered her charade, but said nothing. Instead he had her taken to his own home where she would receive better care. When her health was restored the doctor met with Robert's commanding officer and subsequently an order was issued for Robert Shirtliffe to carry a letter to General Washington. (This may also be "legend" as there is no record of her ever being in Philadelphia.)

When the order came for her to deliver a letter into the hands of the Commander-in-chief, she knew that her deception was over. She presented herself at the headquarters of Washington, trembling with dread and uncertainty. General Washington, to spare her embarrassment, said nothing. Instead he sent her with an aide to have some refreshments, then summoned her back. In silence Washington handed Deborah Samson a discharge from the service, a note with some words of advice, and a sum of money sufficient to bear her expenses home. (This, too, may well be more legend than fact.)

After the war Deborah Samson married Benjamin Gannett of Sharon and they had three children. During George Washington's presidency she received a letter inviting Robert Shirtliffe, or rather Mrs. Gannett, to visit Washington. During her stay at the capital a bill was passed granting her a pension, in addition to certain lands, which she was to receive as an acknowledgment for her services to the country in a military capacity as a Revolutionary Soldier, in part thanks to the efforts of Paul Revere.

More Women of the Revolution from "Daughters of America",1849 and "Women of the Revolution" 1882: There is the little known story of Rachel and Grace Martin who disguised themselves as men and assailed a British courier and his guards. They took his important dispatches, which they speedily forwarded to General Greene. Then they released the two officers who didn't even know that they were women.

Then there is Anna Warner, wife of Captain Elijah Bailey, who earned the title of "The Heroine of Groton" because of her fearless efforts to aid the wounded on the occasion of the terrible massacre at Fort Griswald in Connecticut. Anna Bailey went from house to house collecting material for bandages for the soldiers. Incidentally she denied ever having used the coarse and profane expressions ever attributed to her.

Margaret Corbin stepped up to the artillery during the attack on Fort Washington when her husband fell by her side and unhesitatingly took his place and performed his duties. In July of 1779 the Congress awarded her a pension for her heroism - and a suit of clothes.

Angelica Vrooman, during the heat of battle, sat calmly in a tent with a bullet mould, some lead and an iron spoon, moulding bullets for the rangers.

Mary Hagidorn, upon hearing the order by a Captain Hager, for the women and children to retire to the long cellar, said: "Captain, I shall not go to that cellar should the enemy come. I will take a spear which I can use as well as any man and help defend the fort." The captain seeing her determination answered "then take a spear,Mary, and be ready at the pickets to repel an attack." She cheerfully obeyed and held the spear at the pickets till hurrahs for the American flag burst on her ear and told that all was safe.

[CommandoFrank]

Sorry but this old retired military man just doesn't believe a female soldier should be 'up front'. There are plenty of jobs out of harms way.

[Loyalist]

Feminist support for women in combat ends when the US enters combat and women die in it.

No doubt NOW will turn around and wave the bloody shirt, screaming that American women are dying in combat because of George Bush.

Prayers for Pte. Lynch, a woman who should never have had to die the way she did.

[Paradox]

Oh goodness, I almost hope she has passed from this earth. When I told someone who is familiar with the Arab culture about the black woman who was captured, she said that "She is lucky she is not blonde, she would have been raped, and who knows what else."... If she is not being paraded around, then I presume that she has not survived though...

[joesnuffy]

I am a combat vet of some thirty years ago.....what I feel is not very PC
My family's prayers for hers...and thank you for her service...we are very sorry for your loss
God Bless you all..

[CARDINALRULES]

Blonde Jessica Lynch

WTF does her hair color have to do with anything?

[laz17]

There's a reason why she wasn't among the five shown alive, or among the seven bodies. And I don't even want to say it.

Some Iraqis are gonna hang.