Ex-POW Jessica Lynch Honorably Discharged

[Seraphim]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030827/ap_on_re_us/jessica_lynch

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030827/capt.1062011253.jessica_lynch_wxs601.jpg


By ALLISON BARKER, Associated Press Writer

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Jessica Lynch, the former prisoner of war who became a national hero when special forces rescued her from an Iraqi hospital, has been honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, her lawyer said Wednesday.



The medical discharge clears the way for Lynch to pursue possible book or movie deals about her ordeal, Stephen Goodwin of Charleston said. Though she has not spoken publicly about her time in Iraq (news - web sites), Lynch has said through a spokesman that she plans to tell her story in a book to be published by the end of the year.


"As of now, she is not a member of the military anymore," Goodwin said. "Like any citizen, she is now free to enter into a contract."


Lynch, 20, suffered multiple broken bones and other injuries when her 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah on March 23.


Her rescue on April 1 made a celebrity out of Lynch, who joined the Army to get an education and become a kindergarten teacher.


She returned home last month to a hero's welcome after a long stay at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the nation's capital. She revisited the hospital for the first time last week for a checkup, and was granted the discharge during that trip.


Lynch will continue physical therapy at Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital in Parkersburg. She can walk with crutches, but is still recovering.


She hopes to improve enough to travel to Colorado in November to celebrate Thanksgiving with her fiance, Army Sgt. Ruben Contreras Jr., and his family.


Goodwin said Lynch had not signed a book deal with anyone as of Wednesday, although Pulitzer Prize-winning author and former New York Times reporter Rick Bragg has been a guest at the Lynch home to do research. The Times has reported Bragg will be paid $1 million to tell Lynch's story.


NBC plans a TV movie starring Laura Regan that has been developed without Lynch's authorization, while CBS abandoned its plans for a Lynch movie.


Goodwin said he wasn't sure if Lynch is receiving medical disability. Calls to the U.S. Army were not immediately returned Wednesday.

[budanski]

Generally, when you wind up breaking your spine in several places, you get medically discharged.

[Royal]

Generally, when you wind up breaking your spine in several places, you get medically discharged.

You'd be surprised.

I can think of an SAS Sgt who had a kneecap shot off, then climbed Everest (loosing all his toes to frostbite), then ran the London Marathon within a year, broke his neck on another Everest trip and served for 8 more years. He still climbs 20 years on.

Gen Sir Peter de la Billiere. Broken back in jump accident in the early 70's. Went on to be DSF and command the UKLF in the first Gulf War.

I know six Royal Marine officers/SNCO's who've broken their backs (myself included) and are still serving.

It's down to determination and good physiotherapy (spinal cord damage not withstanding).

[martinexsquaddie]

shock horror an american nearly managing to wear a shaped berat watever next :roll:

[budanski]

Here I am trying to claim workers compensation for a paper cut. :oops:

[Uncle Sam]

Well good for her...What a fiasco this was...

They should've never isuued berets to Regular Army Troops. Especially the Coveted Black Beret !!! I had to "Earn" my maroon beret...

[GLax]

ud think after his first trip up the mountain and losing all his toes he might not wanna go back.. but hey, more power to him. how'd you break your back Royal?

[James]

shock horror an american nearly managing to wear a shaped berat watever next :roll:

They're not supposed to look like mushroom tops? :P

[Herrmannek]

shock horror an american nearly managing to wear a shaped berat watever next :roll:
PFC Lynch for USA President :)

[Royal]

how'd you break your back Royal?

Had a bit of a heavy landing after an air steal. Fractured my ankles, knees and most of my lumbar vertebrae.

[ShotOver]

hahaha, didnt a Delta Operator who lost a leg in Mogadishu get a plastic leg and then return to service?

I know this girl went through alot, but i don't want to see a movie about. :|

[GLax]

geez, and your still serving? thats awesome man...

[Royal]

Thanks for the concern. It happened 9 years ago, I had a couple of ops to pin it and I've been fine since. Can't touch my toes despite 5 years of Tai Chi, other than that I'm fine (though I don't jump much anymore - that's more to do with my rank and job). :D

[kathawk]

I agree about not wanting a movie on PFC Lynch. It was good to see that she didn't authorize it *yet*. Best of luck to that girl, whatever she does. I'm glad to hear she's doing so well. :hug:

[Argyll]

According to some reports she's ready to "tell all" in her own words!
Her amnesia must've just been Militarily inflicted/enforced!
Call me cynical,but she could say anything she wanted about her alleged treatment at the hands of her captors,there is not one single person that can confirm/deny her claims
Anybody that suffers injuries through a car wreck needs time to adjust,and rehabilitate,but making her out to be a National Heroine,is totally beyond it for me,she was a young terrified female soldier running for her life when the "accident" happened,and for that she's portrayed as the female "Audy Murphy"...the whole episode reeks of a Government "feel good" campaign,whilst out there on the ground,are where "real Heroes"as falling daily!!
This whole saga has been OTT right from the beggining!

[Zach R.]

I believe the real heroes are the ones who recued her. THe media has been paying more attenttion to her and don't even care about how the hell she got outa there!

"PFC. Jessica Lynch was recued Wednesday. She is a true national hero! Oh yeah, some Army guys helped her walk to the helo."

[Salty Dog]

it's this big because she is a woman..if she was a man, it would have just been a small pow story about the war in iraq, but because she is female, it's bigger than it should be...i mean it's good to see that she is alright and everything...but i don't want to see the movie either.

[txajas]

I believe the real heroes are the ones who recued her. THe media has been paying more attenttion to her and don't even care about how the hell she got outa there!

"PFC. Jessica Lynch was recued Wednesday. She is a true national hero! Oh yeah, some Army guys helped her walk to the helo."

... you meant the Iraqui doctors who treated her? Remember she was in a ****ing hospital not in a POW camp, jeez. I guess everyone in the US who survives a car wreck is a hero.

[txajas]

it's this big because she is a woman..if she was a man, it would have just been a small pow story about the war in iraq, but because she is female, it's bigger than it should be...i mean it's good to see that she is alright and everything...but i don't want to see the movie either.

Well, she is a white bread all american cute as a buton girl, no one gave a damn about the slightly overweight less photogenic African American woman that got captured with all those other support folks (I believe there were like 7 of them). Or the apache pilots....

But, hey I am sure that being in a car wreck in a far away land must be a shocking experience!

[front]

" Now if she had been captured going down fighting,and endured beatings "

Blah.. blah... blah.

For God's sake argyll. She is a woman. "She should have "endured beatings"?"

Leave it out mate. What fecking "beatings" have you endured my friend? I've been knocked around meself and it's not anything I'd hold a medal tight to me chest if I was that young. She's a poor kid who was lucky... God Bless Her.

:-)

I hope still that one day Ms. Lynch will have a nice US TV syndicated show across all the Fifty states and make a whack load of cash.

She earned it.

Nothing more here and nothing less.

Enough about Ms. Lynch (and may God keep her safe). Ms. Lynch? The best of everthing me old daughter... good luck.

[Now can we shut it about her?]

cheers

front

[spelling edits... sure it's the height of vulgarity]

[Argyll]

Front

For God's sake argyll. She is a woman. "She should have "endured beatings"?"
Try the same ones that the POW's got in GW 1 for a start!!!


I hope still that one day Ms. Lynch will have a nice US TV syndicated show across all the Fifty states and make a whack load of cash.

She earned it.

Nothing more here and nothing less.
And how did you come to that conclusion Einstien?

She was in a car crash !!!!!!!!!!
The other captive female had to suffer a damn site worse conditions than what Lynch suffered,she also had to suffer the media humility,of being paraded in front of the worlds media,she was also WOUNDED!!!!!
Granted her injuries were not as severe,but the parallels are the same
Does that make her any less a hero than Lynch...........No it does not,she was held captive in various PRISONS.......not a comfy hospital recieving expert medical care!!There are significant contrasts as txjas pointed out,and Lynch fitted the Bill of being the poor innocent sweet girl next door image,that had all you folks crying into your soup,and not a single thought about the the other female POW..........has she been awarded the Bronze Star for VALOUR?........I have not heard or seen a thing to say ANY of the others in that unit were awarded the same medal based on the same incident and action s take there in!

I feel sorry for Jessica,at 19 she went through a traumatic experience,but it was no worse than any other POW that has been captured in any wartime situation,or any other 18 year old soldier crossing the battlefield line for the very first time,when rounds are coming his way,and he see's comrades falling in action.

You're entitled to your Patriotic opinion of her,and the All American Heroine BS,me I'm from UK and I can tell you this much,from serving mates I've talked to,she is not considered any sort of hero at all,she's pitied,not adulated.....it's a shame you feel she should be classed in the same category of heroes ,as the likes of Shughart and Gordon who were TRUE heros in EVERY single sense!!