Jessica Lynch and her Bronze Star

Yes...I myself have asked this to many of my family members and friends...they I believe have believed the Press with thinking that Pvt. Lynch is a "hero" and "survived" and "fought" for her life...Lets face facts here:

1) She was at the wrong place at the wrong time
2) She didn't try to sacrifice her own life for her fellow soldiers
3) She was a POW and didn't make any attempt to escape..save her squadmates lives..

Hmm...doesn't sound like Bronze Star material to me..unfortunately..many of my close family and friends have been, dare I say it, "brainwashed" into thinking she is a true hero..this is very disgusting to me...

WD

What is a bronze star awarded for?

No!! Jessica does not deserve the Bronze Star, nor does she deserve any of the media attention she has gotten, but of course I feel the government used her to secure their own means and attempt to convince the American public how just and brave the whole resuce of Jessica was.....in spite of the whole thing being set up...which I believe it was.

Valor in combat, meritorious service. I mean, REALLY meritorious service.

There are lesser awards for soldiers who do good jobs, like the ARCOM (army commendation medal) and AAM (army achievement medal) for soldiers who do a good job at thier work, but the bronze star is VERY high up there, and awarded for valor in battle, or, even in non combat situations, like doing something REALLY exceptional and super.

None of which can be said for Lynch in this case. If she was good at her supply job and passed her PT tests and was a good member of her unit, her award would be one of the two above mentioned.

If she was walking down the street at FT Bliss, and say, rescuded a general from an overturned burning humvee, or did something un believable outstanding, then she might get a bronze star.

Our unit had a bronze star, we were all awarded it, for our second tour of saudi, since the Unit had served during desert storm and such, but thats a different kind of bronze star than the one she got, its not as high up, and is given to units as a whole.

hrmmm hrmmm.....Lynch was a women. The army wants to make themselves look good for having women in the army so they dont get whined at. and also if that happened to a man, it wouldnt be worth the media coverage for the army. And I also believe that she does not deserve that medal.
Notce how they made a big deal out of her rescue. Again another form of propaganda.

But in the end can any of you blame her. I mean think about it she probly didnt do too well in HS and the military was her onlyway out. Then she is captured by Iraqis and has a chance to get out and get paid for it. Which on of you would have really ccame out and said the government was lying and that she was just fine?? Probly be scrubbing toilets fro the rest of ur army career.

Um, yeah, some people would sya something. Alot of people, would and have spoken out even when offered huge bribes. Not everyone can be bought off. People have risked more for revealing less than here.

From Skadi -

all this damn publicity.

What about the other PWOs who actually did engage the enemy, until thier weapons jammed up, they ran out of ammo, and had no choice but to die or surrender? Why the hell dont they get medals? Thier ordeal was FAR worse than Lynch's, they were concious, in a prison, really being interrogated by the Iraqis, fearful what might be done to them. Why no publicity for them? Her unit commerades and the two helicopter pilots.

They were rescued and had to walk along a highway, they were beat up worse. yet nothing for them.

Dittos all the way on that Skadi!! That is the absolute truth!! For example, no one ever mentions Laurie Pestiewa (sp?) - the Hopi Indian who was Lynch's roomate. She was killed in that ambush. Then there's the soldier in their unit - can't remember his name!! - who ACTUALLY fought to the death defending their position. He shot till he ran out of ammo, pulled out his bayonet and fought to the death. WHAT ABOUT HIM?!! RUMSFELD needs to be frogged marched out of the Pentagon in shackles for all of these abhorrent lies and distortions and for the mass death and trauma he's perpetrated.


[Edited on 19-09-2003 by EastCoastKid]

[Edited on 19-09-2003 by EastCoastKid]

You all keep talking about why dont they all the other soldiers get medals and blah blah blah, in all reality, they probably do, you just dont hear about it...they dont publicly announce every medal that they give, just Lynch's because she was already in the public eye...also, everyone over there is a hero, regardless of wheather they made a mistake or not

First of all, Lynch was in a vehicle accident, knocked unconscious and she was taken to a hospital. She did not fight. Like another post said, wrong place, wrong time. According to the definition of what is deserving of a bronze star, as Skadi pointed out, her experience does not meet that standard.

Lynch should have received a Purple Heart, for sure and perhaps an ARCOM (Army Commendation Medal) for exceptional courage, perhaps. Under normal circumstances, a soldier of her rank (PVT) would not qualify to receive an ARCOM. They are reserved mainly for Sargent (E-5) and above. Or for those below that rank, for some extraordinary job or act. (i.e. a perfect score on a PT (physical fitness) test, receiving the Presidential citation).

The bottom line, folks, is the war at that point was going badly and the Pentagon was in desperate need of a PR victory. They seized upon the poor, little female private. The story they put out in the beginning about how she "fought to the death" was actually a male soldier in her unit, as I mentioned before. He died. They disgraced his memory by putting his story on her. Pure and simple.

How sick is that?

As for her profiting from a book, I have no problem with that, as a vet. She has a story to tell - GIVEN it's the truth. That will remain to be seen. The movie currently being made was not signed off on by her. She will make no profit from it.