The real hero of the 507th

[Commander-K25]

This is a great article on one of the lesser sung heroes of the 507th Maintenance Company (Jessica Lynch's unit). While Lynch was wrecking her Humvee and being captured unconscious, there were those that fought....

FORT CARSON. Colo. — As former POW Jessica Lynch prepares for the release later this month of her $1 million memoir, the airing of her first TV interview, and a TV movie about the attack on the Army's 507th Maintenance Company, the soldier considered by many to be the 507th's greatest hero enjoys more modest rewards.

Reduced-priced license plates, just $3, for receiving the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War medal. A Kansas City Royals game ball. "And I get to go on free trips — that's the best part," Pfc. Patrick Miller, 23, said recently, a wad of chewing tobacco in his cheek.

(Continued)

In addition to the things mentioned in the article, Miller also convinced his captors that a paper with secret radio frequencies written on it was only a list of mechanical parts costs. They burned the paper in disgust.

What bothers me most about this is that while Lynch is being hailed as a great hero and receiving a book deal and a movie, Miller is still working in the motorpool on a Colorado army base. He hasn't even been promoted.

How can Jessica Lynch have a memoir is she's publicly not supposed to remember anything?

[Commander-K25]

At 11/12/03 12:06 AM, punk_disease wrote: How can Jessica Lynch have a memoir is she's publicly not supposed to remember anything?

She "remembers" more now, apparently. Only she really knows. The facts of the matter are, though, that she crashed her Humvee and lay unconscious while others were fighting for their lives (and hers). The "blond American soldier who fought to the death" was actually Sgt. Donald Walters who was stabbed and shot to death trying to break past Iraqi lines and escape the ambush.

[Jimsween]

At 11/12/03 12:10 AM, Commander-K25 wrote:

The "blond American soldier who fought to the death" was actually Sgt. Donald Walters who was stabbed and shot to death trying to break past Iraqi lines and escape the ambush.

But parades for dead people are so much less fun.

[JudgeDredd]

books by dead ppl arn't much better.

interview

Jessica; "i woke up in (military) hospital surrounded by doctors and just remember pleading for them not to hurt me"

"did you really think they were going to hurt you?"

Jessica; "..i'm in Iraq, it's what you expect to happen"
________

yet another victim of the American propaganda machine..

[FUNKbrs]

Damn, the link didn't work for me......

Oh well, why am I not suprised the media puppet gets all the credit, while the real heroes are totally ignored? Stupid politics.

[ULTRAnamic]

Dam right. Female soilders are only put in for properganda reasons

[bumcheekcity]

At 11/12/03 01:50 PM, ULTRAnamic wrote: Dam right. Female soilders are only put in for properganda reasons

Yer. Nobody would give two hoots if it was a bloke who had been captured.

[Dagodevas]

Y’know, I sympathize with Jessica Lynch, I really do. But the more I hear about all of this exploitation for financial gain that she’s agreeing to, the more I’m compelled to believe that this really is just some gimmick to pull on the heart-strings of the American people.

[mrpopenfresh]

Did she do those nude pics or what?

[Commander-K25]

It's all a mixture of public sympathy and political correctness. I think the reason Lynch has been hyped up is that as well as being attractive and female, she is the "right sort" of hero. She's a "victim" hero, essentially, someone we can all feel sorry for and symapthize with. Miller is more of the "kicked some ass" hero. While he may have saved his comrades with an act of bravery, his story is not as marketable to the public. He doesn't talk about "how tough it was" and the terrible pain and hardship of some long ordeal. From the brief interview he gave on CBS' 60 Minutes, he is blunt, plain-spoken and a "country boy" of sorts. during his time as a POW he was defiant towards his captors rather than complacent and victimized. He is said to have annoyed the Iraqi guards by constantly singing "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" and arguing and yelling when his wedding ring was confiscated.

[Dagodevas]

At 11/12/03 06:02 PM, mrpopenfresh wrote: Did she do those nude pics or what?

I doubt it. If she did, Larry Flynt would have released them in a heartbeat. Perhaps he’s keeping them from release because there’s some foul play behind them?

[FUNKbrs]

At 11/12/03 06:31 PM, Commander-K25 wrote: From the brief interview he gave on CBS' 60 Minutes, he is blunt, plain-spoken and a "country boy" of sorts. during his time as a POW he was defiant towards his captors rather than complacent and victimized. He is said to have annoyed the Iraqi guards by constantly singing "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" and arguing and yelling when his wedding ring was confiscated.

Damn, he kicks ass! Fuck Jessica Lynch, when's THIS GUY putting out an autobiography?

[Dagodevas]

At 11/12/03 07:29 PM, JudgeFUNK wrote: Damn, he kicks ass! Fuck Jessica Lynch, when's THIS GUY putting out an autobiography?

I'll second that.

[Mithel]

I love how her memory changed after a debreifing session. No coincendences there, I tell you what.

[Lyddiechu]

the fact that jessica lynch got all those fucking medals just cheapens them for everyone else in the military who has ever gotten them anytime throughout history for REAL accomplishments. i feel so bad for the girl, talk about the ultimate pawn..

[Stormwarden]

Ladies and gents, welcome to the wonderful world of propoganda. They were looking for a "hero," not necessarily for merit, but more for a feel-good story. I think they need to do something on the real heroes in the story rather than the one everyone wants us to think is the hero.

[ULTRAnamic]

A soilder's Job isnt to be a hero. Its to get the Job done with speed and accurecy. Not to go crying and being emotional about their situation.

[True-Lies]

Yeesh I'm sick of hearing about how "terrified" she was throughout the whole situation. I don't even feel bad for her being wounded now, if she had any respect for the others in her company, she wouldn't be accepting all of this money and trying to play off her story like she dosen't want all of this attention. In that interview she was acting like, "Oh, I'm not a hero, I didn't want all this attention." and all of this other bull. Yes Jessica, very noble of you, telling them you don't want the check when the public is watching, but drooling over the attention behind closed doors...

[Jimsween]

If this isn't an argument for campaign finance reform I don't know what is.

[Ridly]

Why exactly is the army rewarding Jessica Lynch all of these medals? She didn't do her job. She cost the unit two good soldiers. She didn't even attempt to fight back.

Pat Miller on the other hand took out 8 Iraqi soldiers to try and break through the ambush, but doesn he get a meda? NOOO!

The army is starting to piss me off. They lower standards for women entry to try and incorporate minorities into the army. This causes the army to recruit a bunch of pansies and therefore reduces the "strength" of the army by mixing pansy asses like Jessica Lynch with hardcore soldiers like Pat and Donald who worked their asses off to get into the army.

When they went to rescue the 507th they should have left Jessica Lynch and rescued Pat Miller, a deserving soldier.

Does that mean everyone who posted in here is willing to admit that the mainstream media is complete crap?

[EvilGovernmentAgents]

At 11/17/03 02:24 AM, punk_disease wrote: Does that mean everyone who posted in here is willing to admit that the mainstream media is complete crap?

Well, if they haven't gone out of business yet, does that mean that most of what people like is complete crap as well? (Not like I disagree, most of what is on tv IS crap)

At 11/17/03 06:58 AM, UNpossible wrote: Well, if they haven't gone out of business yet, does that mean that most of what people like is complete crap as well? (Not like I disagree, most of what is on tv IS crap)

It's entertaining crap, much like McDonalds or smoking is bad for you but I still smoke, I sometimes watch the news on TV and damnit sometimes I can't help but have some McDonalds fries.

Besides, what's more convenient, seeing a minute long news report while earting supper or sitting down with a newspaper or visiting The Guardian online and reading to get your news?

[Ridly]

At 11/17/03 02:24 AM, punk_disease wrote: Does that mean everyone who posted in here is willing to admit that the mainstream media is complete crap?

Yes, yes I do. The media and news is full of sappy stories that no one cares about. We need real news. Global situations. State of our economy in facts. Any facts would be helpful. Not biased fucking waste of time hypocritical bullshit that no one in their right minds gives a flying fuck about and would rather be hit by 175mph projectile diarreha than listen to another Fox NEWS: Special Bulletin!

Sometimes I don't know why I hate things. I just remind myself that I do and that's all I need to know.