I'm A Soldier Too, The Jessica Lynch Story
 

I just read that Jessica Lynch's bookwill be out in November

A couple of weeks ago I read here in Dallas that they have already begun filming the made-for-tv-movie and that North Texas had been turned into a minature Iraq.

Ok does anyone else think this whole whoopla is eeeerily similar to the movie Wag the Dog? or am I just paranoid about the lengths our government will go to make us believe what they want us to believe?

I wonder which version they will show, Rambo or the one where Jessica is being taken care of by the Iraqi doctor?

I remember talking to some retired military people about it. Jesica got the bronze star for heroism . . . which was ok to them as long as she had her rifle and was actually fighting back. However, the extent of her injries make that unlikely.

So some of the military people smell politics involved. attractive female soldier gets captured and then rescued. It looks good. Oh and she wasn't raped repeatedly which makes it look better. From what I understand a flight officer in the Gulf War was captured but raped so she didn't make a good candidate for all the hoopla.

Please correct me if I'm wrong -- this is from memory only -- but I beleive the Gulf War officer was also married. (And not particularly good looking -- but that's very subjective. Also sexist, but who would argue that the movie people aren't)

It would appear that the whole "rescue" might have been a bit overdone and possibly unnecessary if you believe news reports. I wasn't there, so I won't go any farther on that.

Of course there are politics involved. Maybe in the movie, they'll discover some Weapons of Mass Destruction under her hospital bed.

And, finally, there's the opportunity for a young woman from rural West Virginia to set herself up pretty well for life. Anything wrong with that?

PS, the Iraqi Doctor will be played by Gov. Arnie S. and be adept with M-16's, M-79's and hand-to-hand combat.

I am in total agreement with you on this......

THANK YOU PM_Mama!
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I for one will NOT be buying the book or seeing the movie!

They are most definitely NOT all heroes. You belittle those that showed true herosim by such a blanket statement.

Is your only definition of herosim that you be a soldier and be in the field?

That is their job. Heroism is when they go above and beyond the call of duty in dangerous situations.

Not to be anal, but
 

Soldiers are hero's because they are giving their lives for this country - which is something that many regular folks won't do

Plus, if we are applying Merriam Webster's def. of a hero:


he·ro
Pronunciation: 'hir-(")O, 'hE-(")rO
b : an illustrious warrior c : a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d : one that shows great courage


then her interpretation is appropriate.

Not to be picky, but goodness! :rolleyes: She was just giving a compliment.

ETA: I am curouis too. Why Jessica? :confused:

I don't really know much about Jessica Lynch except that she was injured in the line of duty, in service to the United States which makes her a hero in my eyes.

I don't really understand the cynicism in this thread. :confused:

I'm going to have to disagree, too. For someone to even be brave enough to go over there is admirable, especially since no one's being drafted and made to go. I sure as Hell wouldn't have the guts to. I realize "that is their job," but there are plenty of other jobs to choose from and those who pick the military are heroic enough for me.

Well seeing as how I am a military wife I feel like I can comment here. Yes James you are correct. It is a soilders job to fight and die for his country. Sure its just a job. Its also a VOLUNTARY job. These men and women are no longer drafted. Which means they love and believe in our country so much they are willing to DIE for it. It seems like few people are willing to die for what they believe in any more. They are all heroes in my opinion. Anyone feel free to flame if you like b/c you guys are all entitled to your opinions as am I so no tounge lashing from me here :) But you at least have to have respect someone who is willing to live in the summer heat of the Iraqi Desert away from their loved ones and beloved country to rid the world of an evil and murderous dictator. And you have to have respect for the military spouse who waits patiently for their loved one to return often scared to death they may not. These jobs are never easy and at the very least deserve our respect...

Back to the thread, I herd that Rick Bragg will be the ghost rider for the novel.

I think what alot of people forget is that we have 1200 troops and counting that have been injured, most mamed for life. Life changing amputations. I read a quote from a vietnam veteran volunteering at the Medical Center in Annapolis that some of these amputations are worst he has ever seen.

I seriously don't like how the whole Jessica Lynch thing is being blown EXTREMELY out of proportion. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad she's OK & everything, but there were other POW's too.. and there were also many other soldiers who even lost their lives in combat and in "peace keeping missions" and I don't think it's right to make a huge deal out of the Jessica Lynch story and to forget about the others who have also done so much for the cause. :(

I say more power to her for being able to convince somebody to give her money without seeing the product. I guess if Hillary can do it, why can't she. And if the ghost rider thing is true, the publisher picked a very good ghost rider for the book.

While I agree with those who say that the other POWs deserve attention and credit too, Jessica Lynch was nevertheless brave. I am her age, and I do not have it in me to enlist in the army in the first place, let alone to handle being deployed in Iraq. Nevermind the fact that she is supposedly like 5'1 and under 100 pounds - her rifle must be almost as big as her!

A tiny 20 year old girl who is brave enough to enlist in the army and survive a POW experience does deserve respect; however, it is sad that other soldiers do not recieve the same respect as they are all deserving!

On a side note did anyone else hear that she is now engaged to her boyfriend?

ok in no way am I bashing the armed forces - I have many friends serving right now whom I love dearly :)

has anyone ever thought that its not bravery that drives someone to pick up a gun and fight for their country? I mean Jessica Lynch is from a small W. Virginia town and from the looks of her family from interviews I saw, it didn't look like they had much. Maybe she joined the army so she could make some money and go to college. I know thats why some of my friends joined. Yes they adore their country and yes they are putting their lives on the line for us, but that wasn't why they joined. The lure of money was too much for them.

I heard that he gave her a "promise ring", but I haven't heard about an official engagement though.

I think that her brother is also in the military. That could be a factor in why she joined. :)

Yeah, the local news (in which Palestine WV is in the area) said she was engaged. What's been told around the town is that she was surprised when she made local news, she didn't expect her situation to go that far w/CNN and the book and movie.
Around here she's actually struggled to stay out of the limelight. but some of you are going to have to understand is the climate of where she is from. Appalachia is filled with the "good boys and the good girls". It's like a big damn family down here...once you're on the local news you're a celebrity whether you wanted to be or not.

If you're going to blame someone blame the dag on press.

Oh, the movie is going to focus more on the Iraqi doctor. (or at least this is what I've heard..)

Actually, according to initial news reports, that's exactly why she enlisted. She wants to be an elementary school teacher. And, she's not alone. A lot of people do that. Many enlist with the sometimes incorrect assumption (gamble?) that there won't be a war while they're in. Which doesn't diminish in any way the way most of them do their sworn duty when a conflict does arise. There aren't that many Rambos among us, and I don't know too many people who want to go to war.

TekeSweethrt is exactly right about the "togetherness" in Appalachia. The culture there is pretty different.

I'm pretty sure I read that she has been offered a free ride to any West Virginia state supported college.

As for the weight of her rifle, do they still make M-16 stocks out of plastic? Haven't seen one in years.

First reports were that she shot a bunch of enemy soldiers -- but that report went away pretty quickly.

Cream, I don't think it's a criticism of Jessica Lynch, in as much at is at the media for making her an icon. The accomplishments of others are seemingly unnoticed because Lynch is a cute, young victim and the media (and perhaps even the government) are so focused on milking her ordeal for everything it's worth.

her unit was based out of ft. bliss in el paso. so we've got a bit more global view. everyone of those captured or killed in that unit, the 507th, had a story to tell. it's great jessica got a deal. but what of the female native american soldier from arizona who leaves behind kids; the soldier whose girl friend (and now wife) was a student at my high school; and soldier who was the cook and shot in both feet...the list goes on.
perhaps, this is a wag the dog moment.
for the rest of those brave souls in the military, we cannot support them enough.

i believe they joined within a month or so of each other....i'm not sure who joined first.

for the record, i completely agree with mmcat, leslie agd and deltalum. they've said about everything i want to.

You hit the nail right on the head!!!!

What bout the countless people who aren't soldiers that are there in term of humanitrian work? People such as the Red Cross & Red Crescent, OXFAM, UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank. They're are the unsung heroes of this conflict. You'll never see a movie made about them.

Another really good point. Consider all of the UN and other folks killed in the recent bombing. Or the Iraqi interpretor killed with an American soldier in an ambush.

In reality, though, it's no surprize that Pvt. Lynch was singled out -- for all of the reasons listed above.

Frankly, the bottom line is that there are many heros in any conflict, and someone (the government in this case, I think) needs a face to put in front of the public.

The fact that she got a book contract is not her fault. But she would be dumb not to take it.

Thanks for clarifying Leslie. :)

I didn't really understand why people were complaining about her. From the reports that I have read, Jessica Lynch is lucky to be alive and not permanently disabled. She puts a young, attractive, female face on a military. I can understand why the media and the politicians would be interested in putting her out front. I do think that some of the criticism is because she is a young, attractive female. I don't recall the same type of criticism about Scott O'Grady in 1995.

I think that she joined the military to ensure her financial and educational future. As DeltAlum wrote, "The fact that she got a book contract is not her fault. But she would be dumb not to take it." I couldn't agree more. She will and should benefit from her ordeal.

Also, a lot of kids from smallish towns in economically depressed areas of the country see the military as a way OUT--not necessarily to make more money or to get an education. Just a way out of their small, futureless town. I see this A LOT in the next town over. You either enlist, or you stay home.