# Lynch. An American hero? C'mon!? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 6, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948 "2003-04-06T23:44:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/1 "2003-04-06T23:44:41Z")
Jessica Lynch gets captured along with others and she’s the soul survivor and get’s rescued. How does that make you a HERO??? I’d think the Iraqi guy who notified U.S. Forces of her whereabouts would be the hero. Or how about the guys that rescued her? How does she become the hero? I think this term is used a little too loosely these days and those who use it don’t really “get” the definition. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/2 "2003-04-06T23:51:01Z")
Well, among other reports, (not yet confirmed, that I have seen), it apppears that despite being a clerk, and wounded, and the last of her outfit, she continued to fight until she ran out of ammunition and was overwhelmed. If that part of the story is true, she has as much right to be called a hero as a number of guys who have received medals for similar actions. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/3 "2003-04-06T23:52:01Z")
It seems that whenever anything bad happens to a person, they are automatically a hero. I don’t understand it either. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/4 "2003-04-06T23:53:56Z")
Simulposted with **tomndebb’s** post; if that report is true, then I agree she could be considered a hero. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/5 "2003-04-07T00:00:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hampshire \* > \*\*Jessica Lynch gets captured along with others and she’s the _soul survivor_ and get’s rescued. \*\* War!!! (unh!) what is it good for? absolutely **NOTHING!!!** ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/6 "2003-04-07T00:10:37Z")
I understood that she was a non combatant. Fighting until she ran out of ammunition? The way I see it, if you are captured and held in a hospital then you are a victim. It doesn’t take any special heroics to be captured and held in a hospital, does it? The guys that rescued her ARE heros and deserves medals. ---
**Author:** ![sezyou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@sezyou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sezyou)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/7 "2003-04-07T00:24:38Z")
Face it. She’s pretty, cute, young. Ideal poster girl. The powers that be will milk for what it’s worth. I’m just happy she’s back. Her rescuers are the true heroes. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/8 "2003-04-07T00:26:36Z")
If what they say is true (fighting until she ran out of ammo, etc), then to some degree she is a hero. Speaking for myself, I don’t know if I would have had the presence of mind to do what she did. 'Course, I’m not in the Armed Services (too old), but I suppose if you’re fighting for your LIFE, you’re capable of doing anything to preserve it. That lil girl has GRIT!🆒 And yes, the Iraqi who told the soldiers and walked back forth to scout out the area for Lynch’s rescuers is a hero too. Lastly, but certainly, not least, the soldiers who went in are heros too. As to the non-combatant role, and I may be wrong here, it seems that if she is in a war zone, then she would have ammo and a weapon. All soldiers (speaking for the Army) are required to be qualified on weapons, regardless of their MOS. ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/9 "2003-04-07T00:33:38Z")
Are there verified reports of her fighting until she ran out of ammo? In any case, can you tell me why Lynch deserves hero status any more than the many other American’s and British who have lost their lives in this war? I’m sure _their_ families would like to know. ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/10 "2003-04-07T00:40:01Z")
Well, first of all, she wasn’t the only survivor of her unit. Some were killed, while others were shown on TV as POWs…remember that? Yes, the Iraqi responsible for her rescue is indeed a hero. She is a sight more of a “hero” than when people were calling O.J. a “football hero” . Big difference between being in combat and running with a football under your arm. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/11 "2003-04-07T01:07:51Z")
What’s more than us mere hoi polloi deigning to call the iraqi a hero, I have seen actual members of the MEDIA call him a hero! I guess that means he really is! ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/12 "2003-04-07T01:13:48Z")
Yes, the Iraqi guy is a hero. But there are many other Iraqis who have assisted coalition troops with identifying key men loyal to Saddam, and have assisted by supplying information. Each of these men puts their lives at risk. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/13 "2003-04-07T01:15:15Z")
She’s a woman. Much of the media seems obsessed with this fact. As I’ve learned from regularly watching bits of Lifetime programs, any woman who is a victim is a hero by definition. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/14 "2003-04-07T01:16:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samarm \* > \*\*In any case, can you tell me why Lynch deserves hero status any more than the many other American’s and British who have lost their lives in this war? I’m sure _their_ families would like to know. \*\* This is a _TV war_, brought to you in part by Joseph Pulitz—… er, Fox News and I’m sure the other KIA’s just weren’t _skewing right_, demographic-wise. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/15 "2003-04-07T01:22:28Z")
I find it interesting and amusing that this woman is lying in a hospital bed with severe injuries, while some of you guys badmouth her while sitting on your dead asses in front of computer monitors, nice and snug and secure. ---
**Author:** ![mod29](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@mod29](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mod29)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/16 "2003-04-07T01:23:52Z")
IF what I have read is correct, she IS a hero. Anyone who holds their ground in a firefight, returning fire until out of ammunition, is a hero. If there is a big deal made of it, all the better. Some of the ‘kids’ in this country could do worse when looking for a role model. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/17 "2003-04-07T01:25:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Peyote Coyote \* > \*\*I find it interesting and amusing that this woman is lying in a hospital bed with severe injuries, while some of you guys badmouth her while sitting on your dead asses in front of computer monitors, nice and snug and secure. \*\* Would you kindly point out who in this thread has badmouthed her? ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/18 "2003-04-07T01:28:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Peyote Coyote \* > \*\*I find it interesting and amusing that this woman is lying in a hospital bed with severe injuries, while some of you guys badmouth her while sitting on your dead asses in front of computer monitors, nice and snug and secure. \*\* The only badmouthing I can see in this thread is coming from your direction. Please cite who has been badmouthing her. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/19 "2003-04-07T01:32:09Z")
Hampshire > [@](#): > > Jessica Lynch gets captured along with others and she’s the soul survivor and get’s rescued. How does that make you a HERO??? > I’d think the Iraqi guy who notified U.S. Forces of her whereabouts would be the hero. Or how about the guys that rescued her? How does she become the hero? > > I think this term is used a little too loosely these days and those who use it don’t really “get” the definition. samarm > [@](#): > > The way I see it, if you are captured and held in a hospital then you are a victim. It doesn’t take any special heroics to be captured and held in a hospital, does it? BlackKnight > [@](#): > > s I’ve learned from regularly watching bits of Lifetime programs, any woman who is a victim is a hero by definition. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Goo\_Fee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Doctor\_Goo\_Fee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Goo_Fee)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948/20 "2003-04-07T01:32:21Z")
Some would say that anyone in the theater is a hero-- including the journalists and Iraqi civilians. Without having more facts about her ambush and captivity, I think it is a little early to decide the hero status of Pfc Lynch. Even if she didn’t fire a shot and cried like a girl when the Iraqis attacked she could still be a legitimate hero IMO, based on her behavior while she was captive. As some here may know, a key to surviving being a POW is maintaining mental balance and toughness. Often this is even more challenging than staying physically well. Keeping sensitive military information from your captors and knowing what to say (and what not to say) to protect your well-being can be heroic acts. Of course, if she really did fight off the Iraqis to the last cartridge then she is not only a hero, but quite likely a Badass too. (However, the Jessica Lynch character in “The Jessica Lynch Story” will undoubtedly be both prettier and more Rambo-esque than the real soldier.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynch-an-american-hero-cmon/166948.md?page=2)