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Jeff Miller
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 22 Nov 2001
Posts: 23947
Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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 Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:31 pm Army admits Salem soldier, not Lynch, battled to the end |
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| Quote: | Army admits Salem soldier, not Lynch, battled to the end
09:34 PM PST on Tuesday, November 11, 2003
By kgw.com, NBC, and AP Staff
SALEM -- Former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch, perhaps the best known American in the ranks in Iraq, in interviews on Tuesday accused the U.S. military of manipulating the story of her capture and rescue.
Lynch suffered broken bones and other injuries when her 507th Maintenance Company convoy was attacked after taking a wrong turn in the Iraqi town of Nasiriyah on March 23.
Eleven U.S. soldiers died in that attack, including Sgt. Donald Walters, who grew up in Salem.
Lynch was unconscious during most of the firefight that left 11 Americans dead and 6 captured. And while her gun jammed, other less well-known soldiers like Walters battled on.
The U.S. government tried to portray POW Lynch as a hero of the attack. It didn’t publicize Sgt. Walters.
Reports circulated by the U.S. military early in the war said Lynch waged a fierce gunbattle with Iraqi fighters who ambushed the maintenance unit. She has since said her rifle jammed, and she did not get off a shot.
Those early reports had Lynch fighting her attackers until she ran out of ammunition and suffered knife and bullet wounds.
Military officials have since acknowledged that Lynch wasn’t shot, but was hurt after her Humvee utility vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and crashed into another vehicle.
The Army now concedes that there was a blond-haired soldier who fought until the end: It was Walters, the 33-year old cook and mechanic, who fought bravely in the ambush. NBC News reported Tuesday night that military reports suggest it was Walters who fired the last bullet, not Lynch as originally portrayed.
Lynch said Tuesday she is disturbed by the military reports that falsely said she went down shooting in the Iraqi ambush.
"That wasn't me. I wasn't about to take credit for something I didn't do," she told The Associated Press. "I'm not that person."
"It disturbed me," Lynch continued. "I knew that it wasn't the truth."
Walters' mother, Arlene, wants the government to give her son a hero's due.
"My great grandchildren will study this in history and I would like the true story to be in there," she said. "The gender got mixed up."
Arlene and her husband, Norman, said they got so few questions answered by the Army they finally filed a Freedom of Information request.
“I am angry,” she said. Her son left behind a wife and three daughters.
Walters' 27-year-old widow, Stacie, said: “It seems like after a soldier is dead, they’re forgotten.” |
A photo of U.S. Army Sgt. Donald Walters of Salem, which was on display during a memorial ceremony. (AP Photo)
Pfc. Jessica Lynch speaks during an interview Tuesday. (AP Photo)
[EDIT: Article put in quotes]
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:36 pm |
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If it's true then I'm glad it came out. Heroism should be handed out where due, rather than just at the person who would make a good media person.
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Captain Dappet
Forum Revolutionist
Joined: 06 Feb 2002
Posts: 16756
Location: On my supersonic rocket ship.
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| Wed Nov 12, 2003 1:59 pm |
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Rest in Peace, soldier
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:06 pm |
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^Ditto.
And kudos to Jessica for speaking up.
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Captain Dappet
Forum Revolutionist
Joined: 06 Feb 2002
Posts: 16756
Location: On my supersonic rocket ship.
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| Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:07 pm |
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At last we agree on something. 
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Jeff Miller
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 22 Nov 2001
Posts: 23947
Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:36 pm |
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His mother can finally rest with the knowledge that is now known
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Josi Rockholt
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 29 Dec 2001
Posts: 10136
Location: Boston, Ma
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| Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:28 pm |
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The both deserve the honor.
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Anti-crombie1
Dr. Greenthumb
Joined: 10 Aug 2002
Posts: 2561
Location: ya mums house
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| Fri Nov 14, 2003 10:43 pm |
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good, maybe they'll shut up about her, she's annoying
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Sat Nov 15, 2003 12:13 pm |
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| Anti-crombie1 wrote: | | good, maybe they'll shut up about her, she's annoying |
I take it you've met her? Or at least watched an interview she's been in, yes? Read anything written? No? Perhaps you should do so, or be quiet about it.
It's not been her, it's been the media. I watched an interview with her last night. She tried to deflect all comments about her, and make it about all of the soldiers who are fighting and dying.
I know you don't give a rats ass, and aren't going to even bother to think about it, but I thought I'd make the effort anyway.
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Anti-crombie1
Dr. Greenthumb
Joined: 10 Aug 2002
Posts: 2561
Location: ya mums house
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| Sat Nov 15, 2003 7:18 pm |
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well, I guess you told me.
I didnt say she was a media *beep*, I said that I am sick of hearing about her.
wtf? it bleeps out w-hore
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Sat Nov 15, 2003 9:45 pm |
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Wasn't trying to "tell you", 
BTW, Dad is addicted to that damn game. Beeping all day and all night, *sigh. I'll have to get him another one before Christmas at this rate.
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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