gridlore: Doug looking off camera with a grin (Infantry Crest)
Douglas Berry ([personal profile] gridlore) wrote2003-07-22 05:56 pm

PFC Lynch

Jessica Lynch came home today, and somehow her welcome really irked me.

She was flown into her home town in a UH-60 Blackhawk. Probably one of the few times she's ever flown in one. She was greeted by a mob of well wishers, holding her picture and calling her a hero. This is where I have a problem.

From al the information we have, PFC Jessica Lynch was riding in a 2.5 ton truck when it was hit by a RPG. There is no proof she fired back. In fact, with her injuries, I doubt she could even load the damn thing. She was captured, and taken to a hospital. There, she was treated well, and rescued by American forces.

She is due the Purple Heart and the POW medal.

I see nothing in this story that makes her a hero. In fact, the entire event is a massive example of things going wrong! The convoy got lost, rolled into an ambush, and was destroyed. All PFC Lynch did was ride in a truck. And if my memories of being an E-3 is any guide, she was probably sound asleep when she was attacked.

No one is questioning her dedication to duty, or her conduct while a captive, but she is hardly a hero.

[identity profile] sinboy.livejournal.com 2003-07-22 06:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I've avoided the conspiracy theories surrounding this, but the Bush team has been giving it more hype than I can stomache.