Lynch Gets Medals Ahead of Homecoming

[DeathvadeR]

ELIZABETH, W.Va. - Former POW Jessica Lynch was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in Washington Monday as she prepares for her homecoming.

Lynch, who returns to the hills of West Virigina Tuesday, also received the Purple Heart and Prisoner of War medals at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. The Bronze Star is given for meritorious combat service, a Purple Heart is most often awarded to those wounded in combat, and the POW for being held captive during wartime.

"The Purple Heart ... was not necessarily about being wounded or injured in action initially, but that's what it has come to symbolize," said Lt. Gen. James B. Peake, the Army Surgeon General, in presenting the medals. "It's a special award and not one you choose to get."

<http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_... >

[Terwilliger]

1. nothingshocksmeanymore

ITS A FAKE!!!!!! SHE WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND WAS NEVER A PRISONER!!!

[karlschneider]

2. I regret that I have but one

to give for my country.

[jiacinto]

3. I guess Lynch will be attacked even more now

in this thread.

[lazarus]

4. nobody's attacking her

we're attacking the system that is hyping her to be a hero.

Purple Heart, Bronze Star for getting in a car wreck? That's a travesty. It's shameful. It's a slap in the face to the soldiers in past wars who actually earned these medals through bravery and valour.

As to the POW medal, from what we can tell, she was being treated in an Iraqi hospital, not held in a POW camp.

Ludicrous.

[beanball]

10. Medals for our super hero

what a crock,every service member that earned the bronce star should send them to those lousy bastards in the warmongers bldg.(pentagon) and tell them to place them in a safe place(up their a---s.)

[TahitiNut]

13. The Bronze Star does not require 'combat'

... to be awarded. When awarded for 'valorous' conduct in combat, it's given with a "V" device. Otherwise, it's without the "V" and is for "meritorious" conduct and accomplishment.

Lots of guys in 'Nam rejected awards of Purple Hearts for minor injuries, even when gotten under fire. It wasn't too unusual to get a broken bone or nasty cut when running/stumbling for the sandbag bunkers when under a rocket attack. I didn't hear of many that turned down the Bronze Star -- it's a career-enhancer.

[lightbulb]

16. I just hope plenty of cash...

got handed to her and her family. They have been used and obviously have been asked to keep quiet, and I would like to think it is by way of financial compensation rather than intimidation.

[JoFerret]

6. No SHE won't be attacked

She is a victim of this war. I hope she makes a full recovry and resumes her life. I hope she can be left alone and that the lying exploitation of what happened to her can be quickly exposed, understood and that we all move on wiser and better for the experience.
Best wishes Jessica and may you still reach your goal of money for college to become an elementary school teacher (or whatever you may choose.) May the vultures of all stripes leave you in peace and may the VA be fully funded to provide you with what you need.

[TrueAmerican]

7. She deserved it for being used by the White House

Give her a Medal of Honor. It's not her fault she was use to promote the war.

Giving her the Bronze Star may not be deserved for her actions, but she is not the first to receive medal they did not earn.

[indictrichardperle]

8. Lynch should sue the neo-cons

for lying about her injuries, the circumstances regarding them, her hospital stay and her rescue. FRAUD

The OSP probably cooked up all this bullshit, just like they did everything else. Sad, just like the Speicher case they used a soldier to peddle propaganda.

If you start awarding medals for car accidents, the medals lose all their value.

[GabysPoppy]

5. Let's hope she tells the truth

And the amnesia was bullshit.

The rescue was bullshit.

And her "sealed" hospital stay was also bullshit.


Another * Trifecta.

[DeathvadeR]

9. you'll have to buy the book......

It will be available sometime after this adminstration is long gone.

[jpgray]

11. My father received a Bronze Star

But he knows as I do, that Lynch's medal is just for politics and PR.

Jessica Lynch's commander got her convoy lost as a result of sleep deprivation, her humvee crashed and she was injured. She was given treatment in an Iraqi hospital whose staff tried to return her before there was a filmed dramatic rescue. I'm not sure what her meritorious conduct was, perhaps someone can explain it to me?

edit: clarity

[FlashHarry]

12. My Grandfather received the Bronze Star with 2 oak-leaf clusters

in the Pacific in WWII. I'm sure he's turning over in his grave right now. The purple heart, I could see. If I were her, I'd just hope my veteran's benefits would pay for all the medical treatment.

[juajen]

17. I'm not sure what her meritorious conduct was either, but

I think she deserves the purple heart. She was badly injured as a result of her service to this country. I have an acquaintance that got one for being shot in the foot, his big toe. Fully recuperated within a couple of weeks, still got the medal. Jessica was where she was because our country put her there. Her injuries are a direct result of her service to her country and were quite serious injuries. If she hadn't been so badly injured she would have been detained as the rest of her fellow live soldiers were, IMO.

[jpgray]

19. I have no quarrel with the purple heart

But I think the Bronze Star was awarded primarily for political reasons.

[andy12]

14. This is common practice?

Can't wait to see what they offer the families of the Canadian soldiers, who accidently had a bomb dropped on them by the US Air Force. Sorry would be nice, but so far no dice.

andy

[PartyPooper]

15. This young woman was a pawn of the Bu$h regime!

I hope she fully recovers from her injuries. And, I'm sure she will. She has a lot of good and loving folks back home who will help nurture her back to health.

I was watching CNN and MSNBC today. And, plenty of her neighbors are becoming more suspicious and outspoken regarding the motivations for this "war".

Surely, Jessica will get many an "earful" from her family and friends as she watches the unfolding news accounts in the coming weeks and months. Likely, she will become angry and disgusted with the circumstances which drew her into Iraq.

But, I hope the media can leave her alone. She should not be used as a political / propaganda piece! Let her get her life back together.

She went into the military in order to later teach school because of the G.I. Bill. Maybe she can fulfill that dream. I hope so. I think she may become an excellent teacher. And, God knows, we can sure use more good teachers!

And, the medals? Well, I say let her keep them...or, do whatever she wants with them. Let's not begrudge or belittle these bestowed medals! They will forever mean something far different to her than they ever will for us. And, that's the way it should be.

Jessica, I bid you peace.

[juajen]

18. I fully agree, and, furthermore,

I think it was her honesty and her family's, that kept the hype from continuing. Her father said she had no stab wounds or gunshot wounds and also said she didn't have amnesia. I believe that is one honest family, and I salute them. Speedy recovery, Jessica. BTW, I don't begrude her a book deal either. She certainly has an interesting story to tell. I hope that any movie made of this adventure is an honest one. No need to wrap it up in red ribbons. It was a real drama.

[ewagner]

22. Good points

I agree that her parents seem to be good, honest people and I think they are smart enough to detect when their daughter is being used. They will protect her from exploitation by the media, by the administration, by the repub party.

[HellKat]

20. Pathetic

Why can't they leave this woman alone and let her have peace.We all know that Rove's media is using her to make those jackasses in the White House and this illegal war look good to the public. Nice little distraction from the real truth.

[TahitiNut]

21. I'll weigh in on this, for what it's worth.

I have little other than compasssion and concern for Ms. Lynch, a young woman who, like many, probably saw the military as a means to gain knowledge and a perspective born of experience as well as a venue wherein she could demonstrate her (naive) confidence in her nation and its elected leadership. I would guess that she, like many, is tragically disillusioned. It's tough to find out there's no Santa Claus and that mommy and daddy lied.

Beyond my empathic regard for Ms. Lynch's 'learning experience,' I can only observe again that this madministration is morally impoverished. If this is the best they can do in choosing living totems to represent the courage and sacrifice of our military personnel in Iraq, it demonstrates either a sad disconnect with the reality of the challenges faced and overcome by ground troops there, or a morale and conduct record of our military personnel far beneath even my own experience.

I can only guess that most military people look at this and experience a tragic ennui: Is that all there is?

[underpants]

23. Requirements of Purple Heart and Bronze Star (some tricky language)

Look first of all good her to be home, the Purple Heart (see below)surely the Bronze Star...I dunno.

Bronze Star
*

b. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.


Purple heart

[TahitiNut]

24. That phrase occurs in many or most ...

(if not all) medals and decorations based on the character of service. The MoH, DSC, Purple Heart, Navy Cross and others all contain that phrase (i.e. "in which the United States is not a belligerent party"). Google it and see what I mean.

[underpants]

25. So should that not allow the awarding of medals?

I doubt there will be a great outcry about that and it would not be too politically prudent but I wonder.

[TahitiNut]

26. Can you even imagine ...

... the overwhelming attacks that'd be directed at anyone who even suggested that such medals shouldn't be awarded based on this phrase? (Wow!) "You're attacking our brave soldiers!" "You're anti-American!" "Traitor!" ... and so many variants it'd exceed imagining. (SlANNder Coulter would have a shit hemorrhage!)

It seems more interesting to me that Congress even contemplated and ensconced in legislative language the possibility that the US would be a "belligerent" in military actions. Such candor isn't often seen in legislation, IMHO.

[underpants]

27. "We are a nation of laws"

Ooh a blast from the past. I'm not saying medals shouldn't be given out (or that there is a snowballs chance in hell W won't try to get on the military's good side by handing out TONS of medals) but I would like to see that phrase have to be ammended. Or at least an open admission that the US was/is belligerent in this action.

[umcwb]

28. Kick, n/t

[Lisa]

29. I was pleased that she took time to thank the Iraqi doctors and nurses ...

Even though she was evidently rather stressed and embarrassed at having to make a speech in front of so many people. I wonder if the Iraqis who helped her, at great risk to their lives, will get anything from the US government?

I hope Ms. Lynch makes a speedy recovery from her injuries and can go to teachers' college soon. Neither she nor her parents seem to be intent on dragging this out and exploiting it for personal gain. (I suspect many of her colleagues are feeling this way too ... and probably more and more of them, as the occupation continues.)