Jessica Dawn Lynch
Born April 26, 1983 (1983-04-26) (age 25)
Jessica Lynch at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (April 28, 2004)
Place of birth	Palestine, West Virginia, U.S.A.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army Quartermaster Corps
Years of service	2001—2003
Rank	Private First Class (PFC)
Unit	507th Maintenance Company
Battles/wars	2003 invasion of Iraq
Awards	Bronze Star Purple Heart Prisoner of War Medal Army Service Ribbon

Jessica Dawn Lynch (b. April 26, 1983, Palestine, West Virginia) is a former Quartermaster Corps Private First Class (PFC) in the United States Army. Lynch became famous after her widely publicized recovery by U.S. special operations forces. is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Jimi Hendrix song, see 1983. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 368 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (500 × 815 pixels, file size: 170 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... This article is about the U.S. Army medical center/hospital (not the research institute). ... is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Categories: Stub | Towns in West Virginia | Wirt County, West Virginia ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ... Army Quartermaster Corps Branch Insignia The United States Army Quartermaster Corps is a combat service support (CSS) branch of the United States Army. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... US Military In the U.S. Army, Private First Class is the third lowest enlisted rank, just above Private and below Corporal or Specialist. ... (disputed — see talk page) 507th Maintenance Company provides logistical support to 5/52 ADA (PATRIOT), based at Ft Bliss, Texas. ... This article is about the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... Image File history File links Purple_Heart_BAR.svg‎ Source Own work, based on PD image from Commons uploaded by User:Zscout370. ... For other uses, see Purple Heart (disambiguation). ... Prisoner of War Medal The Prisoner of War Medal was authorized by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. ... The Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army which was created in 1981. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Jimi Hendrix song, see 1983. ... Categories: Stub | Towns in West Virginia | Wirt County, West Virginia ... The Quartermaster Corps is a combat service support branch of the United States Army. ... US Military In the U.S. Army, Private First Class is the third lowest enlisted rank, just above Private and below Corporal or Specialist. ... The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ...

Lynch, along with major media outlets, have since accused the United States Government of fabricating this story as part of the Pentagon's propaganda effort^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]} to manipulate the American and global public opinion into accepting and sympathizing with the^[8] 2003 invasion of Iraq.^{[9][10][11][12]} This article is about the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ...

Accounts of the events from Lynch's capture to her rescue are incomplete and contradictory, and Lynch herself has no clear recollection of this period. Dr. Greg Argyros, assistant chief of the Department of Medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center where Lynch was treated, stated, "[A]nytime anybody goes through a traumatic event of any kind, there is the risk that they may have a period that they don't remember what happened." This article is about the U.S. Army medical center/hospital (not the research institute). ... Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event. ...

On April 24, 2007 she testified in front of Congress that she had never fired her weapon—her M16 rifle jammed, as did all weapons systems assigned to her unit, and that she had been knocked unconscious when her vehicle crashed.^[2] She woke up later in an Iraqi hospital. She accused members of the media and the military of lying for their own gain. She said during her testimony, "They should have found out the facts before they spread the word like wildfire." is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... M16 (more formally United States Rifle, Caliber 5. ...

Biography

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Lynch's family were unable to send their children to college, as they couldn't afford it. Consequently, Greg Jr. (the eldest child) was forced to quit through lack of funds. As a result, the other Lynch children searched for alternative ways to pay for their higher education.^[13] In the summer of 2000, an army recruiter met with the Lynch family. "He did not lie to the kids," Jessica's mother said. He said there was always the possibility of war in the future. "But at that time it was before Sept. 11, and there was no terrorism," Jessica recalls, "so we were like, 'that would never happen to me.'^[13] On September 19, 2001, barely a week after 9/11, Lynch entered basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and later Advanced Individual Training (AIT) for her Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) as unit-supply specialist at Fort Lee, Virginia. Image File history File links Acap. ... Terrorist redirects here. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... The date that commonly refers to the attacks on United States citizens on September 11, 2001 (see the September 11, 2001 Attacks). ... Fort Jackson is a United States Army Basic Combat Training (BCT) base located in South Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32° 2′ N to 35° 13′ N  - Longitude 78° 32′ W to 83... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is a job classification in use in the United States Army and Marine Corps. ... Fort Lee is a census-designated place (CDP) in Prince George County, Virginia, United States. ...

Battle in Nasiriyah

Main article: Battle of Nasiriyah

On March 23, 2003, a convoy of the United States Army's 507th Maintenance Company and the 3rd Combat Support BN elements, led by a Humvee driven by Lori Piestewa, made a wrong turn into enemy territory and were ambushed near Nasiriyah, a major crossing point over the Euphrates River northwest of Basra,^[14] The convoy was supposed to detour around the town and instead turned directly into it, eventually running into an ambush. The ambush was unlikely to have been set up in advance, because the Iraqis did not know which course the convoy would take. The navigational error has never been properly explained, because the soldiers had GPS receivers and maps. However, the convoy was a long one, and if the soldiers who knew the route and their location were not near the front of the convoy, it could easily have taken a wrong turn before it was possible to rectify the error. Apparently, the convoy took more than one wrong turn. Combatants Iraq Coalition Forces: U.S. Strength Iraqi Army 3d Corps USMC Task Force Tarawa Casualties 359-431 KIA; +300 POW; +1000 WIA[1] 29 KIA; 6 POW; 60 WIA The Battle of Nasiriyah occurred during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ... (disputed — see talk page) 507th Maintenance Company provides logistical support to 5/52 ADA (PATRIOT), based at Ft Bliss, Texas. ... SPC Lori Ann Piestewa (December 14, 1979–March 23, 2003) was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which her friend Jessica Lynch was injured. ... NāşirÄ«yah (also transliterated as Nassiriya or Nasiriya; in Arabic الناصرية, al-Nasiriyah or an-Nasiriyah) is a city in Iraq. ... The Euphrates (the traditional Greek name for the river, which is in Old Persian Ufrat, Aramaic Prâth/Frot, in Arabic الفرات, in Turkish Fırat and in ancient Assyrian language Pu-rat-tu) is the westernmost of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia (Bethnahrin in Aramaic), the other being the... This article is about the city of Basra. ... Over fifty GPS satellites such as this NAVSTAR have been launched since 1978. ...

Jessica Lynch, then a 19-year-old supply clerk with the 507th Maintenance Company (based in Fort Bliss, Texas), was injured and captured by Iraqi forces.^[15] She was initially listed as missing in action. Eleven other soldiers in the company were killed in the ambush and five other soldiers, later rescued, were captured. Her best friend, Lori Piestewa, was seriously wounded in the head and died in an Iraqi civilian hospital, possibly because it was not possible to do delicate neurosurgery in that hospital under wartime conditions (such as intermittent electrical power).^[16] (disputed — see talk page) 507th Maintenance Company provides logistical support to 5/52 ADA (PATRIOT), based at Ft Bliss, Texas. ... Fort Bliss is a census-designated place and United States Army post in El Paso County, Texas, United States. ... MIA is a three-letter acronym that is most commonly used to designate a combatant who is Missing In Action, and has not yet returned or otherwise been accounted for as either dead (KIA) or a prisoner of war (POW). ... The 2003 Invasion of Iraq which lasted from March 20 – May 1, 2003 resulted in a small number of American and Coalition POWs. ... SPC Lori Ann Piestewa (December 14, 1979–March 23, 2003) was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which her friend Jessica Lynch was injured. ... Insertion of an electrode during neurosurgery for Parkinsons disease. ...

A video of some of the American prisoners of war, including Lori Piestewa, was later shown around the world on Al Jazeera television. After the war, footage was discovered of both Lynch and Lori Piestewa (in the footage Lori was still alive) at an Iraqi hospital.^[17] The 2003 Invasion of Iraq which lasted from March 20 – May 1, 2003 resulted in a small number of American and Coalition POWs. ... SPC Lori Ann Piestewa (December 14, 1979–March 23, 2003) was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which her friend Jessica Lynch was injured. ... Al Jazeera logo Al Jazeera (الجزيرة), meaning The Island or The (Arabian) Peninsula (whence also Algiers) is an Arabic television channel based in Qatar. ... SPC Lori Ann Piestewa (December 14, 1979–March 23, 2003) was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which her friend Jessica Lynch was injured. ...

Prisoner of war

After some time in the custody of the Iraqi army regiment that had captured her,^[18] Lynch was taken to a hospital in Nasiriya. Iraqi hospital staff, including Doctors Harith Al-Houssona and Anmar Uday, claim to have shielded Lynch from Iraqi military and government agents who were using the hospital as a base of military operations. U.S. forces were tipped off as to Lynch's whereabouts by an Iraqi, sympathetic to her plight, who told them she had been tortured and injured but was still alive. The Iraqi was described as a 32-year-old lawyer, initially described only as "Mohammed" and later identified as Mohammed Odeh al Rehaief. In light of Mohammed's role in Lynch's rescue, Mohammed and his family were granted refugee status by the United States. For the town in the Republic of Ireland, see Hospital, County Limerick. ... Mohammed Odeh al-Rehaief (born circa 1970) is an attorney from Iraq that helped the United States armed forces in the rescue of Jessica Lynch while she was being held as a prisoner of war in a hospital in Nasiriyah. ...

Initial reports indicated that al Rehaief's wife was a nurse by the name of Iman in the hospital where Lynch was being held captive,^[18] and that while visiting his wife at the hospital, al Rehaief noticed that security was heightened and inquired as to why. However, hospital personnel later confirmed only part of al Rehaief's story, indicating that while al Rehaief had indeed visited the hospital, his wife was not a nurse there, nor was there any nurse by the name of Iman working there. While visiting the hospital from which Lynch was eventually extracted, al Rehaief claimed that he had observed an Iraqi colonel slapping Lynch. "My heart stopped", said al Rehaief, "I knew then I must help her be saved. I decided I must go to tell the Americans."^[18] The heart and lungs, from an older edition of Grays Anatomy. ...

Al Rehaief's story has been disputed by doctors working at the hospital, who claim that Lynch was shielded and protected from Iraqi military personnel by hospital staff and was cared for well throughout her stay at the hospital.^[19]

Moreover, according to reports, on March 30, Dr. Al-Houssona reportedly attempted to have Lynch delivered to the U.S. forces, an attempt which had to be abandoned when the Americans fired on the Iraqi ambulance carrying her.^[20] is the 89th day of the year (90th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

According to al Rehaief's version of the events leading up to Lynch's rescue, he walked six miles to a U.S. Marine checkpoint to inform American forces that he knew where Lynch was being held.^[18] After talking with the Marines, al Rehaief was then sent back to the hospital to gather more information, which was used to plan Lynch's rescue.^[18] Allegedly al Rehaief returned to the checkpoint with five different maps of the hospital and the details of the security layout, reaction plan, and shift changes. The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea,[1] using the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces and is one of seven uniformed services. ...

The U.S. military reportedly learned of Lynch's location from several informants, one of whom was al Rehaief.^[21] After al Rehaief came forward and confirmed Lynch's location, officials with the Defense Intelligence Agency equipped and trained an unnamed person, possibly al Rehaief, alternatively listed as an Iraqi informant and as a Central Intelligence Agency agent, with a concealed video camera. On the day of the raid, the informant walked around the hospital, secretly videotaping entrances and a route to Lynch's room. al Rehaief was reportedly paid for his services. The Defense Intelligence Agency, or DIA, is a major producer and manager of military intelligence for the United States Department of Defense. ... CIA redirects here. ...

Rescue/Hospital Retrieval

A combat camera video shows the April 1, 2003 footage of Lynch on a stretcher during her rescue from Iraq.

On April 1, 2003, U.S. Marines staged a diversionary attack, besieging nearby Iraqi irregulars to draw them away from Saddam Hospital in Nasiriyah. Meanwhile, a joint unit assault element of Delta Force, Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Air Force Pararescue Jumpers (PJs), and a security force of Army Rangers launched a nighttime raid on the hospital and successfully rescued Lynch and retrieved the bodies of 8 other American soldiers.^[22] A combat camera video shows undated footage of U.S. PFC Jessica Lynch on a stretcher during her rescue from Iraq (USCENTCOM photo) This work is copyrighted. ... A combat camera video shows undated footage of U.S. PFC Jessica Lynch on a stretcher during her rescue from Iraq (USCENTCOM photo) This work is copyrighted. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nāşirīyah (also transliterated as Nassiriya or Nasiriya; in Arabic الناصرية, al-Nasiriyah or an-Nasiriyah) is a city in Iraq. ... The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D) — commonly known as Delta in the U.S. Army, Delta Force by civilians, and Combat Applications Group by the Department of Defense — is a Special Operations Force (SOF) and an integral element of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). ... A green beret is a type of headgear. ... Navy SEALs redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Official force name 75th Ranger Regiment Rangers Other names Airborne Rangers Army Rangers Task Force Ranger U.S. Army Rangers Branch U.S. Army Chain of Command USASOC Description Special Operations Force, rapidly deployable light infantry force. ...

According to certain accounts of doctors present during the raid, they were gathered into groups at gunpoint and treated as possible hostiles until they could be identified as being hospital staff. Many military and Special Forces experts have defended the tactics of the operators who led the raid, saying that Special Forces teams are trained to expect the worst and move quickly, initially treating each person they encounter as a possible threat. Additionally, the doctors stated that the Iraqi military had left the hospital the day before and that no-one in the hospital had offered any resistance to the American forces during the raid. Contrary to this claim, forces still loyal to Saddam Hussein were reported to have fled the building where the Americans were being held. ^[23].

One witness account, claimed in an opinion article written by a correspondent within the BBC, included the opinion that the special forces had foreknowledge that the Iraqi military had fled a day before they raided the hospital, and that the entire event was staged, even going so far as to use blanks in the Marine's guns to create the appearance that they were firing. ^[24]. For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ...

Lynch's injuries

In the initial press briefing on April 2, 2003 the Pentagon released a 5min video of the rescue and claimed that Lynch had stab and bullet wounds, and that she had been slapped about on her hospital bed and interrogated.^[25] is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

But Iraqi doctors and nurses later interviewed, including Dr. Harith Al-Houssona, a doctor in the Nasirya hospital, described Lynch's injuries as "a broken arm, a broken thigh, and a dislocated ankle". According to Al-Houssona, there was no sign of gunshot or stab wounds, and Lynch's injuries were consistent with those that would be suffered in a car accident. Al-Houssona's claims were later confirmed in a U.S. Army report leaked on July 10, 2003.^[26][27] In an accident resulting from excessive speed, this concrete truck rolled over into the front garden of a house. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The authorized biography, I Am A Soldier Too: The Jessica Lynch Story, by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Rick Bragg states that Lynch had been raped during her captivity, based on medical records and her pattern of injuries.^[28] The Pulitzer Prize is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in print journalism, literary achievements, and musical composition. ... Rick Bragg (born July 26, 1959 in Piedmont, Alabama) won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1996 for his work at The New York Times. ...

However, Lynch has since stated that she does not recall any sexual assault and was "adamantly opposed to including the rape claim in the book", but that Bragg wore her down and told her that "people need to know that this was what can happen to women soldiers."^[29]

Departure from Iraq

From Kuwait, Lynch was transported to a medical facility in Landstuhl, Germany, where she was expected to recover fully from her injuries. On the flight to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, the military medics kept her sedated and hydrated. Her family flew to Germany on April 5 to be reunited with her. In a statement, the hospital said, "Lynch had a big smile on her face when her parents arrived". The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) is an overseas military hospital operated by the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense. ... Boeing C-17A Lot XII Globemaster III Serial 00-0172 Spirit of the Cascades at the Ramstein cargo terminal. ... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Lynch underwent back surgery on April 3 to correct a slipped vertebra that was putting pressure on her spinal cord. Since then, she has undergone several more surgeries to stabilize her fractures. is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Eleven bodies were recovered at the same time as Lynch's rescue, nine from a shallow gravesite and two from the morgue. Following forensic identification, eight were identified as fellow members of her company, including Private First Class Lori Ann Piestewa. All were subsequently given posthumous Purple Hearts. Details of their deaths are unclear. SPC Lori Ann Piestewa (December 14, 1979–March 23, 2003) was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which her friend Jessica Lynch was injured. ... For other uses, see Purple Heart (disambiguation). ...

PFC Lynch was shown during a controversial display on Al Jazeera television of four other supply-unit POWs. That video also showed a number of dead soldiers from that unit with gunshot wounds to the forehead. The 2003 Invasion of Iraq which lasted from March 20 – May 1, 2003 resulted in a small number of American and Coalition POWs. ... Al Jazeera logo Al Jazeera (الجزيرة), meaning The Island or The (Arabian) Peninsula (whence also Algiers) is an Arabic television channel based in Qatar. ...

Mohammed flees Iraq

After learning of al Rehaief's role in Lynch's rescue, Friends of Mohammed, a group based in Malden, West Virginia, was formed to press for al Rehaief to be naturalized as a U.S. citizen and to bring him to West Virginia. On April 29, 2003, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced that Mohammed Odeh al Rehaief, his wife, and their 5-year-old daughter had been granted humanitarian asylum on April 28.^[30] Al Rehaief and his family were brought to the United States at his request April 10. Al Rehaief published a book, Because Each Life Is Precious, in October 2003, for a reported US$300,000.^[31] He is now working in the U.S. Malden, West Virginia Malden, West Virginia is a city in Kanawha County. ... Official language(s) none (de facto English) Demonym West Virginian Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Largest metro area Charleston metro area Area  Ranked 41st in the US  - Total 24,230 sq mi (62,755 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ... is the 119th day of the year (120th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Secretary of Homeland Security is the head of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the body concerned with protecting the American homeland and the safety of American citizens. ... Thomas Joseph Ridge (born August 27, 1945 near Pittsburgh, USA) is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives (1983–1995), Governor of Pennsylvania (1995–2001), Assistant to the President for Homeland Security (2001–2003), and the first United States Secretary of Homeland... is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 100th day of the year (101st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Return home

Jessica Lynch is awarded the Bronze Star, Prisoner of War and Purple Heart medals

Upon her return she was greeted by thousands of West Virginia residents and by then-fiancé Army Sergeant Ruben Contreras. Soon after her return Lynch and Contreras separated. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (600x655, 66 KB) Summary From: [http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (600x655, 66 KB) Summary From: [http://www. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... Prisoner of War Medal The Prisoner of War Medal was authorized by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. ... For other uses, see Purple Heart (disambiguation). ...

On April 12, 2003, Private Lynch was flown to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., to undergo specialized treatment and rehabilitation. On April 17, she underwent surgery to repair a bone in her right foot. is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

While recovering in Washington, Lynch was inundated with gifts and flowers from well-wishers, so much so that she asked the public to send cards instead. Her family suggested that the public send money to charity and relief organizations.

Lynch was released from the hospital on July 22, more than three months after her injury. is the 203rd day of the year (204th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On August 27, 2003, Lynch was given a medical honorable discharge. An authorized biography, written by Rick Bragg, was released in November 2003. is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from his or her obligation to serve. ...

Lynch's criticism

Soon after her rescue Pentagon officials disputed a report appearing in the Washington Post that Lynch had fought back, and the first official report of Lynch's actions during her capture released by the Pentagon weeks later said that she did not appear to have fought back against her captors. The stories of her supposed heroics that day were spread by the news media and by Congressmen from her own state of West Virginia.^[32][33] ... Official language(s) none (de facto English) Demonym West Virginian Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Largest metro area Charleston metro area Area  Ranked 41st in the US  - Total 24,230 sq mi (62,755 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ...

Months after returning, Lynch finally began speaking to the public. Her statements tended to be sharply critical of the original story that was reported by the Washington Post. When asked about her heroine status, "That wasn't me. I'm not about to take credit for something I didn't do ... I'm just a survivor.^[34]"

Despite the letters of support she received after her testimony before a House oversight committee, Lynch says that she still gets ^[35] hate mail from Americans who accuse her of making up the heroic acts attributed to her. "I was captured, but then I was OK and I didn't go down fighting. OK, so what?" she says. "It was really hard to convince people that I didn't have to do any of that. That I was injured, that I still needed comfort."^[36]"

She denied the claims that she fought until being wounded, reporting that her weapon jammed immediately, and that she could not have done anything anyway. Interviewed by Diane Sawyer, Lynch claimed, concerning the Pentagon: "They used me to symbolize all this stuff. It's wrong. I don't know why they filmed [my rescue] or why they say these things."^[37] She also stated "I did not shoot, not a round, nothing. I went down praying to my knees. And that's the last I remember." She reported excellent treatment in Iraq, and that one person in the hospital even sang to her to help her feel at home. Diane Sawyer is a television journalist for the U.S. network ABC News and co-anchor of ABCs Good Morning America, along with with Robin Roberts. ...

Controversy also arose regarding the varying treatment and media coverage of Lynch and Shoshanna Johnson, an African-American soldier captured in the same ambush as Lynch, but rescued later. Critics, including Rev. Jesse Jackson, said that Johnson's race was a major reason that Johnson received little media attention and a smaller disability pension as compared to Lynch. Other criticism has focused on the ignoring of other members in her unit, such as Lori Piestewa, who had picked up Lynch when her vehicle broke down and was later mortally wounded by gunfire. Male prisoners in her unit received scant media coverage at all. It should be noted that the criticism was not directed to Lynch herself but what was perceived to be biased media coverage. Lynch always spoke with great respect for her fellow soldiers, especially the ones who were killed in the incident. Lynch had been best friends with Piestewa and at her homecoming gave this tribute: Shoshana Nyree Johnson (born in 1971) was the first black female prisoner of war in the military history of the United States. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. ... SPC Lori Ann Piestewa (December 14, 1979–March 23, 2003) was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which her friend Jessica Lynch was injured. ...

Congressional hearings

On April 24, 2007 Jessica Lynch gave congressional testimony before the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that the Pentagon had erroneously portrayed her as a "Rambo from West Virginia," when in fact, she never fired a shot after her truck was ambushed. (According to her authorized biography, her M-16 jammed.) is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is a United States House of Representatives committee that has existed in varying forms since 1816. ... The United States Department of Defense (DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the military. ... M16 (more formally United States Rifle, Caliber 5. ...

Earlier in the day, Pat Tillman's brother, Kevin Tillman, also testified. He and Lynch talked about misinformation and hype relating to the battlefield and how the military lied and twisted reality for propaganda purposes. She also met with the Tillman family and compared her incident in Iraq to Pat Tillman's in Afghanistan saying that "Our stories are similar". [1] She began her testimony by noting for the record that her appearance was not politically motivated. Patrick Daniel Tillman (November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004) was an American football player who left his professional sports career and enlisted in the United States Army in May 2002, along with his brother Kevin Tillman. ... For other uses, see Propaganda (disambiguation). ...

In a prepared statement she said:^[39]

• "I believe this is not a time for finger pointing. It is time for the truth, the whole truth, versus hype and misinformation.

• "I am still confused as to why they chose to lie and tried to make me a legend when the real heroics of my fellow soldiers that day were, in fact, legendary ... [T]he bottom line is the American people are capable of determining their own ideals of heroes and they don't need to be told elaborate tales.

• "The truth of war is not always easy to hear but it is always more heroic than the hype."

Plans and wishes from college

Lynch is a sophomore student at West Virginia University's Parkersburg campus, on a full scholarship because of her military service. West Virginia University is an institution of higher learning based in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser; and a clinical campus for the Universitys... West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a community college in Parkersburg, West Virginia administered by West Virginia University. ...

On May 6, 2006, Allison Barker of the Associated Press reported that Lynch, who had completed her freshman year, avoids her military past at school despite wearing a brace on her left foot protecting nerve damage from her capture: "I think people recognize who I am; they just don't make it obvious. That's good for me because it gives me the opportunity to blend in and not stick out and really experience the college life, just like they are." Lynch also talked about her career plans and legacy: "I know I want to do something with children. [But] I haven't really found my direction, with everything I've been through....I want people to remember me as being a soldier who went over there and did my job. Nothing special. I'm just a country girl at heart." is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ...

On August 24, 2006, Good Morning America Weekend Edition co-anchor Kate Snow reported that Lynch wrote a letter stating she would have a baby by the end of the year. Foxnews.com reported that Lynch and her boyfriend Wes Robinson would have their first child in January. Jessica made the statement: "I was not sure if this could ever happen for me, learning to walk again and coping with the internal injuries that I still deal with pale in comparison to the tremendous joy of carrying this child." Jessica gave birth on January 19, 2007 through a caesarean section, and named her daughter "Dakota Ann" after her fallen friend, Lori Ann Piestewa, the first woman (of the US-led Coalition) killed in the Iraq War and the first Native American woman killed on foreign soil in an American war.^[40] is the 236th day of the year (237th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Good Morning America Weekend Edition is a weekend edition of ABC morning show Good Morning America. ... Kate Snow (b. ... The Fox News Channel (FNC) is an American cable and satellite news channel. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... A caesarean section (AE cesarean section), or c-section, is a form of childbirth in which a surgical incision is made through a mothers abdomen (laparotomy) and uterus (hysterotomy) to deliver one or more babies. ... SPC Lori Ann Piestewa (December 14, 1979–March 23, 2003) was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which her friend Jessica Lynch was injured. ...

On Television

An NBC TV movie depicting Lynch's ambush and rescue, Saving Jessica Lynch, which was about Mohammed's account of him rescuing Lynch aired in the U.S. on November 9, 2003, starring Canadian actress Laura Regan as Lynch. In an interview published in the August 15, 2005, Time magazine, Lynch stated that she saw some of it, but that the inaccuracies in it upset her enough that she did not finish watching all of it. Much of the content in the movie had been disputed by others.^[41][42] A television movie (also TV movie, TV-movie, made-for-TV movie, etc. ... Saving Jessica Lynch is a made-for-tv movie that aired on NBC on Sunday, 9 November 2003, featuring Canadian actress Laura Regan in the title role. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Laura Regan (born in 1977 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada) is a Canadian actress best known for her role as Jessica Lynch in the movie Saving Jessica Lynch. ... TIME redirects here. ...

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC also featured Lynch in an episode in which Lynch nominated, then helped build a new home for the family of her late best friend: Lori Piestewa. Lori had previously told Lynch that her dream was to return to her home in the Navajo Nation in Tuba City, Arizona and build her parents a home. A divorced mother, Lori left behind two young children who were being cared for by her parents, Percy and Terry Piestewa, in a rented mobile home. Lynch applied for a makeover for Lori's family. In a two-parter, the team built the family a new home in Flagstaff, Arizona, where they had expressed a desire to move. The team not only built the new home, but also built a Veterans Affairs building dedicated as a meeting place for Native American veterans in the area. The homebuilders gave $50,000 to the family, and Sears gave $300,000 worth of clothing to families on the Navajo reservation. In the course of the episode, a memorial for Lori was placed on a nearby mountain-top over looking the valley where the house was built and commemorated by the design team. Ty's secret room - A memorial room to honor Lori. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is an ABC reality television series that began broadcasting in 2003 in which a familys house, including all rooms, exterior and landscaping, is made over by a team of builders and designers in seven days. ... The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American television network. ...

Design team: Ty, Paul, Michael, Constance, Preston, Paige, Ed, Eduardo and special guest Jessica Lynch

Nude Photographs

Larry Flynt claims to have purchased both "topless and fully nude" photographs of Jessica for $750,000 from soldiers who took the pictures in an Army barracks. Flynt did not release the alleged photographs citing she was a "good kid" who became "a pawn for the government". "Some things are more important than money," he said. "You gotta do the right thing." Many still question whether he even has such photos.^[43] Larry Flynt in 2007 Larry Claxton Flynt, Jr. ...

References

YouTube is a website that allows users to upload, view, and share video clips. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Guardian. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article refers to the news department of the British Broadcasting Corporation, for the BBC News Channel see BBC News (TV channel). ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Security Archive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and archival institution located within The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1985 by Thomas Blanton, it archives and publishes declassified U.S. government files concerning selected topics of American foreign policy. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Democracy Now! is an independent, award-winning news and opinion radio program airing on over 300 stations across North America every weekday, as well as both satellite television networks. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article refers to the news department of the British Broadcasting Corporation, for the BBC News Channel see BBC News (TV channel). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Avram Noam Chomsky (born December 7, 1928) is an American linguist, philosopher, political activist, author, and lecturer. ... Avram Noam Chomsky (born December 7, 1928) is an American linguist, philosopher, political activist, author, and lecturer. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... (Clockwise from upper left) Time magazine covers from May 7, 1945; July 25, 1969; December 31, 1999; September 14, 2001; and April 21, 2003. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Guardian. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 158th day of the year (159th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article refers to the news department of the British Broadcasting Corporation, for the BBC News Channel see BBC News (TV channel). ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 74th day of the year (75th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... is the 100th day of the year (101st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 135th day of the year (136th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Guardian. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Fox News Channels slogan is We Report, You Decide The Fox News Channel is a U.S. cable and satellite news channel. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... BBC News website in June 2007. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Susan C. Faludi (born April 18, 1959 ) ) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of two well-known books and won a Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism in 1991, for a report on the leveraged buy-out of Safeway Stores, Inc. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Democracy Now! is an independent, award-winning news and opinion radio program airing on over 300 stations across North America every weekday, as well as both satellite television networks. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Editor & Publisher (E&P) is a now-monthly journal covering the North American newspaper industry. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... -1... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 100th day of the year (101st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... is the 101st day of the year (102nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Further reading

• Odeh al-Rehaief, Mohammed (November 23, 2004). Because Each Life Is Precious: Why an Iraqi Man Risked Everything for Private Jessica Lynch. Harper Paperbacks. ISBN 0060724404. 

• Bragg, Rick (November 11, 2003). I Am a Soldier Too. The Jessica Lynch Story. Knopf. ISBN 1400077478. 

• Mulrine, Anna. "Out of the Spotlight: Five Years on, Jessica Lynch and her ex-POW comrades look back", U.S. News and World Report, March 14, 2008.