"Jessica Lynch. We are United States soldiers and we're here to protect you and take

[KarlGauss]

“Jessica Lynch. We are United States soldiers and we’re here to protect you and take you home.”

Well, maybe I’m emotional after dealing with a ward full of SARS patients all week, but that quote gave me one huge lump in my throat.

(And please don’t tell me there’s been ‘too many’ Jessica Lynch threads already. I needed a lift)

[rubes]

I heard she informed them that she, too, was a us soldier. You go girl <-----d’oh, did I just right that?

[Coriolanus]

From the April 5 CentCom briefing

As the team entered the hospital room, they found Private Lynch in a hospital bed. The first man approached the door and came in and called her name. She had been scared, had the sheet up over her head because she didn’t know what was happening. She lowered the sheet from her head. She didn’t really respond yet because I think she was probably pretty scared.

The soldier again said, “Jessica Lynch, we’re the United States soldiers and we’re here to protect you and take you home.” She seemed to understand that. And as he walked over and took his helmet off, she looked up to him and said, “I’m an American soldier, too.”

As they prepared to evacuate her, a team member made a preliminary assessment of her medical condition. The physician who had accompanied them – this is our physician who accompanied the assault – took the opportunity to further evaluate her condition, stabilized her for evacuation. She had injuries both to her legs, her arm, a head injury, and seemed to be in a fair amount of pain.

After she was prepared for movement and secured to the stretcher, the team members carried her down the stairwell out to the front door to the waiting helicopter. While the helicopter transported her to a nearby aircraft, who was then going to move her on to a field hospital, Jessica held up her hand and grabbed the Ranger doctor’s hand, held on to it for the entire time and said, “Please don’t let anybody leave me.” It was clear she knew where she was and she didn’t want to be left anywhere in the hands of the enemy.

Those special Ops guys Rock!

[booka]

I was against women being in combat-related service in the armed forces.

I still am not a solid proponent of it, for reasons I won’t go into here.

But this Jessica Lynch woman inspires me big time. The Special Ops people inspire me as well. I am impressed, and very grateful, for what they do.

Goddamn GOOD GOING for all involved, including the Iraqis that put their lives in danger to help.

[RTFirefly]

It’s hard to say enough about the skill, bravery, and esprit de corps of these guys. I may not be keen on this war, but I’ve got no end of respect for our troops.

One part of the article I’d like to highlight:

Meanwhile, the Iraqi doctor told the team there were remains of other U.S. soldiers nearby, and they were led to a burial site. Because they had not brought shovels, Renuart said, the team dug up the bodies with their hands.

“They wanted to do that very rapidly, so they could race the sun and be off the site before the sun came up,” he said. “It’s a great testament to the will and desire of coalition forces to bring their own home.”

This was flat-out above and beyond; they didn’t have to do this. After all, the dead will not be brought back to life by the recovery of their bodies. But if they hadn’t recovered those bodies then, who knows if they’d be able to find them later? And while the families of those dead soldiers will still be mourning, they will have a body to bury, and that will mean a great deal to them.

My hat’s off to these guys.

[Slainte]

*Originally posted by rubes *
**I heard she informed them that she, too, was a US soldier. You go girl **

Well put.

I’m a woman who was active duty Air Force. She makes me very proud.

[Speaker_for_the_Dead]

Wow, even as a usual apathetic being towards the U.S. military, I salute those guys.

[Miro]

I see a movie deal. And deservedly so. What a story! And let’s be sure the brave Iraqi gentleman who was responisble for informing United States troops of Pfc. Lynch’s location is taken care of. A one-way ticket for him and his family to the United States, along with permanent residency, should be offered to him. I would think that because of that act of courage by him, not only should he be given refuge, but maybe even monitarily rewarded (movie royalties?)
God bless our brave troops, and all the luck to Pfc. Jessica Lynch in her recovery.
Eddie in San Jose

[Tuckerfan]

Am I wrong for wishing that her first words to her rescuerers had been, “Aren’t you a little short to be a stormtrooper?”

That being said, everyone involved deserves medals. 140 folks risked their lives to save one American soldier, and they performed beautifully. May all their future missions be so successful.

[Ferrous]

Damn you, Tuckerfan!

I had the exact same thought when I heard Gen. Renuart describe the scene at a press conference.

[sub]Grebblefrebble bastard steals my joke, rasslefrassle brackinfrackin…[/sub]

[RTFirefly]

I know it’s been overused to death, but Tristan, could you please come here and clean off my keyboard and monitor?

My wife just called up from downstairs, asking, “Are you okay up there?” Apparently I was laughing that loudly.

[Tristan]

RTFirefly- As much as I would like to take credit, it was Tuckerfan that made the joke.

Unless you were posting to something else by accident?

crickets chirp

Guess not.
For what it’s worth, reading of the rescue makes me proud that the men and women donig these deeds have our flags on their arms.

[El_Elvis_Rojo]

As for the Iraqi man who helped lead the troops to Lynch and rewards, apparently when asked what he wanted as a reward, he replied “An American Flag.”

Koodos to everyone involved in this amazing mission. We’ve been running a story about a local family who’s son was also in Lynch’s troup and was marked on the MIA list. It was sad for me to see him amongst the list of dead troops discovered in the grave site, but it is good for the family to know and to gain clossure.

Again, an amazing testament to our troops. May they all remain safe and come home soon.

[Tuckerfan]

*Originally posted by Ferrous *
**Damn you, Tuckerfan!

I had the exact same thought when I heard Gen. Renuart describe the scene at a press conference.

[sub]Grebblefrebble bastard steals my joke, rasslefrassle brackinfrackin…[/sub] **

Neener, neener, neener! I can’t believe I managed to beat anyone to the punch on that.

[Alcibiades]

Its an inspiring story. I personally hope that Iraqi doctor gets a lot more than just a flag for putting his head out like that.

[RTFirefly]

*Originally posted by Tristan *
RTFirefly- As much as I would like to take credit, it was Tuckerfan that made the joke.

D’oh!

Don’t ask me why my fingers typed ‘Tristan’ when I meant ‘Tuckerfan’, it’s just one of them senior moments. They’ll happen to you someday, too.