Jessica Lynch should get medal

[Animal]

I'm sorry, I understand the horror she survived, but...

She fully understand the danger of being a member of the Armed Forces when she signed up, she was aware of her duty to her country and the responsibilty that it involved, so exactly why does she deserve a medal for? What makes her so special? Why is she so different than the ones who died in this conflict? What about them? What about the families of the soldiers who will come back in coffins? Do the children of those soldiers who gave their lives get medals?

I'm sorry if this sounds cold hearted, but Jessica Lynch has her life. Somewhere tonight their is a child crying in the US, because their daddy will never be coming home.

[Azred]

It is because she faced death and was luckily spared that she deserves a medal. I agree that she should have realized the dangers of signing into the military (as should her family) but many who serve will not face what she faced. Unfortunately, some have died but there is a long tradition of awardng medals posthumously.

And now my cynical side emerges.... There are many families and individuals here in the US who are not accustomed to having loved ones in danger. Too many war action movies with somewhat sanitized combat (no matter how realistic the special effects) has made many people soft when it comes to wartime loss. My grandmother had to spend most of 1944 knowing only that my grandfather was alive, but not where he was or when (if) he would be returning; this is something to which I cannot personally relate but can understand.

Reality is often perceived as "cold-hearted"; unfortunately, many do not have the perseverence to accept reality as it is.

Originally posted by Davros: From what I read in the paper today it sounds like the stories of gun shot wounds and stabbings were simply not true. The broken limbs are certainly true and I am waiting to hear whether they were inflicted by her captors or in the fight - they look suspiciously like abuse to me but that is a personal view only.

It was first reported that she had multiple gunshot wounds...later (as I posted above) her father said that when she was examined by medical professionals in Germany, they did not find any evidence of gunshot (or stab) wounds...the word is now, that when she had surgery on her broken right arm, evidence of a gunshot wound was discovered.

My personal take on most of her injuries is that they are some of the same types of physical injuries suffered in a vehicle roll-over accident...but really, I think we'll all have to wait for her personal take on it before we can believe anything anyone on either side of the press says (or our own speculations for that matter)...even the "newly discovered evidence of a gunshot wound in her right arm" has only been reported through the press as far as I know since I haven't seen any briefing by her medical team since early yesterday when they were saying she had yet to have the surgeries on her arm and legs.

I still say, you go girl!

EDIT: In Central Command's morning briefing today, Gen (Insert French name here that I have forgotten how to spell, shame on me, it's so close to my own middle name)related more information of her rescue...some sentimental conversation that took place between her and her rescuers, but what impressed me was his story of their dedication to not leaving their fallen commrades behind...as he told it, they didn't have shovels when led to the grave that held eleven bodies so they dug them up with their bare hands. I am sure that their families have some gratitude that their loved ones were returned to them...maybe not as much as the grief they have at their loss, but what they did says a lot about how much they care for their fellow soldiers...even when they don't know them personally.

[ 04-05-2003, 10:12 AM: Message edited by: Lil Lil ]

[Cloudbringer]

I am certainly glad Lynch is rescued and alive and apparently going to recover fully or nearly so, according to the interview with her father I saw. I'm not sure that just because she was the last to survive from the company that was taken that makes her eligible for a 'medal', as someone else said, what about the dead? They may have been as brave or braver, who knows? Jessica will get all the attention and adulation she can handle and then some, if the current glut of news reports is any indication! The poor girl was asking her parents if she was in her LOCAL paper for goodness sake! She'll be overwhelmed when she sees the extent of the media coverage on her personal experiences. Heck, even her favorite foods were being discussed on one interview I saw recently.

Personally, I believe the lawyer, Mohamed, deserves some high recognition for what he did. So far, I've seen three different news stations report pretty much the same story on how he discovered Jessica was in the hospital (he has a friend working there), snuck in and told her he'd get help, then he walked about 6 miles to the Marines to tell them where she was. Then supposedly the Marines asked him to get more detailed info on the hospital layout and troops there, which Mohamed, did for them. All at tremendous personal risk to himself and his family! And so far, all I've heard that the man asked for in return was an American flag. If all this is true, that man deserves the highest honor we can accord someone from another nation. He risked his life and his family if anyone found out what he was doing, all because he had a conscience and a good heart. God Bless him.

I agree wholeheartedly Cloudbringer, that man is a true hero.
The men who rescued her deserve recognition too...just because "they were doing their job" doesn't mean that what they pulled off was not spectacular.
God Bless them all.
[img]graemlins/ladyhearts.gif[/img]

[Ar-Cunin]

Originally posted by Attalus: I'm on board with Jessica getting at least a Silver Star. Yes!

Won't she get a Purple Heart for being wounded in action?

[Malthaussen]

From what I've heard of the incident, it seems Pfc Lynch handled herself professionally. Whether or not this is deserving of a decoration, is for an awards board to decide. More than likely she'll get something, since popular sentiment would have it no other way; certainly if she was wounded in action she'll receive a Heart.

I wonder, however, if so much fuss would be made over her if she had been a male. Indeed, I strongly doubt that any rescue operation would have been launched had she not been female; we're not talking about Patton's son here. (For those who don't know the reference, in WWII general G. S. Patton mounted an operation to liberate his son from a POW camp in Germany) One of the arguments often heard in regards to women in the fighting forces -- and the only one I personally think has any validity -- is that they will inevitably be treated differently from males, and that fellow soldiers may put themselves at unreasonable risk to assure the safety of female combatants. This does in fact seem to be the case, here, with a multi-unit operation being mounted to free one rifleman from an enemy installation. Granted, the operation was brilliantly executed (no Son Tays, here), and granted, the rifleman in question was undoubtably being subjected to abuse and was seriously worthy of rescue. But I think if Pfc Lynch had been "James" rather than "Jessica," everybody from Dubya on down would have said "Tough luck, now let's carry on."

I do not believe that the sacrifice made by a woman in defense of her home and country (however justified or otherwise that sacrifice might be on the world stage) is in any way greater or more significant than the sacrifice made by a male. That is, after all, what is meant by "equality," isn't it? One might argue that a female prisoner is subject to risks and abuses not shared by her male counterparts -- but I wonder how true that in fact is. Regardless, if such risk is to be considered significant enough to influence operational decisions, then possibly those who argue against the employment of females in the combatant arms have a more justifiable case than would otherwise appear.

-- Mal

I think the fact that this was the first successful mission to rescue a POW since WWII made it a big deal to pentagon officials, to the president, to the public.

That it happened to be a girl, a simple country girl at that, just made it more appealing to the hearts of everyone who heard about it.

[Donut]

Why is Jessica Lynch still all over the TV? I'd be more concerned about the 8/9 other US servicemen that were taken from that hospital. Or the other servicemen who are in battle today.

[Felix The Assassin]

Originally posted by Malthaussen: From what I've heard of the incident, it seems Pfc Lynch handled herself professionally. Indeed, I strongly doubt that any rescue operation would have been launched had she not been female; we're not talking about Patton's son here. (For those who don't know the reference, in WWII general G. S. Patton mounted an operation to liberate his son from a POW camp in Germany) One of the arguments often heard in regards to women in the fighting forces -- and the only one I personally think has any validity -- is that they will inevitably be treated differently from males, and that fellow soldiers may put themselves at unreasonable risk to assure the safety of female combatants. This does in fact seem to be the case, here, with a multi-unit operation being mounted to free one rifleman from an enemy installation. Regardless, if such risk is to be considered significant enough to influence operational decisions, then possibly those who argue against the employment of females in the combatant arms have a more justifiable case than would otherwise appear. -- Mal

Back The Truck Up!

1st, PFC Lynch IS NOT A COMBATANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is a armed Non-Combatant. She is not a Grunt,(All deployed soldiers have the right to self defense) she is a clerk. In persepctive, at your office the female secretary is mugged going to get supplies. Versus the armed securty guard going down while protecting the boss. You will feel a whole lot more for the secretary than the guard!
Yes she deserves a medal! Yes she should get 2! One will be a PH, the other should be a Silver Star. Only to be determined after the validation of her actions.

2nd, G.S. Patton never launched a rescue raid to save his son.
However, G.S. Patton did launch a very daring raid to resuce his Son-In-Law, who was a POW. The operation is titled as Raid On Hammelburg. It was a complete failure! If they would of had a little more intel, that raid could have been very fruitful. The capture of two German Generals, and one Field Marshall, could have been accomplished.

3rd, For a what we call a "REMF" Rear Echelon ..... She did one hell of a job trying to prevent capture, most REMFs probably would have not been capable of those actions.

4th, Females are in CSS Combat Service & Support units, and further back. A CSS is part of a heavy Divisions total man power, not combatants. We have allowed females into attack helicopters, I have meet 1, and she transferred over from a nurse.

5th, For those of you who don't know, I'm a 20 yr man, and a DS vet. I am a Combatant. The difference is, when I pull the trigger 4 SOBs are heading straight to Hell, Courtesy of a 120mm Depleted Urainium long rod penetrator travelling at a speed of over 1 mile a second, with a range of 5,000 meters. 3-7 CAV is doing what all Tankers dream of, Death and Destruction to the enemy. Destroying as of this morning's accounts over 22 Russian made T-72's, that were dug in, and manned by the Republican Guard. Trucking HooAh!!

6th SF is well, like their name implies, Special. The ROE has changed due to the tactics that are being used on our soldiers. Leave no man behind, is not some trucking movie script. That is trucking real! No matter who was in that hospital,(combatant, non-combatant, Male or Female, it was a known to be alive US Soldier!) when the info was reviewed, and the pre-strike rehearsal was completed, the mission was on. And it was successful.

7th For all of those that have been pounding their coffee cups on the table about the innocent folks in that hospital. Well Trucking pound sand! Toture chambers were found, a stockpile of mortar munitions and small arms cache, along with some RPGs were co-located there also! SF does not kill just to kill, silence and stealth is their watch words. If the non team memeber does not pose a threat, then they are passed. So all doctors and nurses that were not there to start with, were not harmed. The other patients that were there were also not harmed. So go Trucking pound sand!

From the sidelines in Europe
Felix