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Interview With Jessica and some photos

#1 User is offline   ticker 

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  Posted 22 February 2005 - 05:03 AM

Thanks to Matt Wiser for finding this interview and the pics. smile.gif

"I look at life positively"

Jessica Lynch visits Boca Raton, calls for prayer, support for troops.

Published Tuesday, February 22, 2005 1:00 am
by By Paul Gereffi/Special to the News



When Jessica Lynch was seriously injured and captured by foreign soldiers while serving in the Army in Iraq on March 23, 2003, her future could not have been more uncertain. Eleven others in her convoy were killed. Lynch was the only survivor.

Now, as she nears the two-year anniversary of her subsequent rescue by U.S. forces nine days after her capture, Lynch is in the midst of a whirlwind tour of personal appearances and speaking engagements, which included a recent stop in Boca Raton.

These events not only provide the permanently disabled Lynch with a steady income but also offer her a forum to remind people of the military personnel who are still in harm's way overseas. This includes her 23-year-old brother, Greg.

"I want to eventually put what happened over there behind me," said Lynch, "but I want to remind people to still support our troops, to pray for our troops. What happened to me could happen to your own son or daughter."

Since she started accepting invitations last April, Lynch has made appearances at the Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles, the Mrs. America Pageant in Palm Springs and the Orange Bowl in Miami, where she was part of the pre-game ceremonies. She also attended the White House Correspondents dinner and met with President Bush in the Oval Office.

Last weekend she spoke at a meeting of the American Hotel & Lodging Association at the Boca Raton Hotel & Resort. On Sunday, she attended the Daytona 500 NASCAR event.

The diminutive Lynch, who will turn 22 on April 26, received the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and the POW medal for her service. She still suffers from injuries sustained in the ambush in Iraq, which included a spinal injury and fractures to both legs, her right arm and right foot and ankle. She needs a cane or crutches for mobility.

"I still have no feeling in my left leg," she says. "I have a lot of complications and at this point there's a very slim chance the feeling will ever come back. I've come to accept it. It could have been worse. I could have been an amputee or been killed."

She is not about to let her disability hold her back from pursuing her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher. She plans to enroll in West Virginia University this fall and take online classes.

With her busy schedule of two to four appearances per month, Lynch does not have much time for social activities. Her engagement to Army Sgt. Ruben Contreras is off, but they are "still friends" Lynch maintains.

Lynch harbors no regrets for her decision to enter military service. In fact, she would do it over again. She still has her uniform hanging in her bedroom.

"It's the first thing I look at when I wake up in the morning and if I was to start over I'd do the same thing," said Lynch. "I still miss the military and I would still be in if I could. The feeling that I got protecting my country makes me proud."

Lynch claims that accepting what transpired is the key to maintaining a productive and happy life.

"I look at life positively," she said. "I wish things had turned out differently and I think about [those that died] every day. I would give anything to bring them back. But I have to take care of myself. I was one of the lucky ones that came out of there alive. It's something that I will never take for granted."


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Posted 22 February 2005 - 05:15 AM


The article URL: http://www.bocanews.com/index.php?src=news...News&prid=10928


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Posted 22 February 2005 - 08:59 AM

Thanks for the posting. This is one of the best Jessica interview's that I've read.
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#4 User is offline   Soprano84 

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Posted 22 February 2005 - 10:50 AM

QUOTE (ticker @ Feb 22 2005, 07:05 AM)
Eleven others in her convoy were killed. Lynch was the only survivor.

My only complaint...uh....guys?? There WERE 5 other survivors...
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#5 User is offline   Dilligafst 

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Posted 22 February 2005 - 01:12 PM

Yeah, it is one of the best interviews I've seen. It really sounds like she's gaining much reflection on the ambush and what happened and how she, alone, of all the MIA's from that ambush, somehow came back alive -- one of those wonder of miracles that is still hard to imagine when you think about what happened to her. Those were some fun photos to see, especially her next to Johnnie Damon, one of the heros of the Red Sox miracle this year:) That is another one I can still not believe. You can still see, though, how much of an old young gal that she is and that she's had so much more perspective.


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Posted 22 February 2005 - 02:43 PM

QUOTE (Soprano84 @ Feb 22 2005, 12:52 PM)
QUOTE (ticker @ Feb 22 2005, 07:05 AM)
Eleven others in her convoy were killed. Lynch was the only survivor.

My only complaint...uh....guys?? There WERE 5 other survivors...

That's right, in fact there were actually far more than even five other survivors from the convoy if you count all of those who escaped back across the bridge. If they had wrote that Jessica was the only survivor from her vehicle, that would have been accurate. But, considering all of the mistakes, bad reporting and outright dis-info that we have seen, this mistake isn't that bad. You'd think a professional writer and editors would have caught it though.
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#7 User is offline   Soprano84 

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Posted 22 February 2005 - 04:09 PM

QUOTE (ticker @ Feb 22 2005, 04:45 PM)
QUOTE (Soprano84 @ Feb 22 2005, 12:52 PM)
QUOTE (ticker @ Feb 22 2005, 07:05 AM)
Eleven others in her convoy were killed. Lynch was the only survivor.

My only complaint...uh....guys?? There WERE 5 other survivors...

That's right, in fact there were actually far more than even five other survivors from the convoy if you count all of those who escaped back across the bridge. If they had wrote that Jessica was the only survivor from her vehicle, that would have been accurate. But, considering all of the mistakes, bad reporting and outright dis-info that we have seen, this mistake isn't that bad. You'd think a professional writer and editors would have caught it though.

Ticker, Ticker, Ticker....you expect reporters to actually check their facts? What's wrong with you??

What's sad is that we on this board (at least the long-termers like you, ne, Kicks, etc) could write an article with accuracy, but the paid "pros" cannot...
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#8 User is offline   patience 

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Posted 22 February 2005 - 05:38 PM

QUOTE (Soprano84 @ Feb 22 2005, 06:11 PM)
QUOTE (ticker @ Feb 22 2005, 04:45 PM)
QUOTE (Soprano84 @ Feb 22 2005, 12:52 PM)
QUOTE (ticker @ Feb 22 2005, 07:05 AM)
Eleven others in her convoy were killed. Lynch was the only survivor.

My only complaint...uh....guys?? There WERE 5 other survivors...

That's right, in fact there were actually far more than even five other survivors from the convoy if you count all of those who escaped back across the bridge. If they had wrote that Jessica was the only survivor from her vehicle, that would have been accurate. But, considering all of the mistakes, bad reporting and outright dis-info that we have seen, this mistake isn't that bad. You'd think a professional writer and editors would have caught it though.

Ticker, Ticker, Ticker....you expect reporters to actually check their facts? What's wrong with you??

What's sad is that we on this board (at least the long-termers like you, ne, Kicks, etc) could write an article with accuracy, but the paid "pros" cannot...

You are correct. Accuracy in reporting is important. When I read the article I tended to hone in more on Jessica's comments, such as her continued devotion to the military. Truly remarkable after all she has suffered for her country.

"Lynch harbors no regrets for her decision to enter military service. In fact, she would do it over again. She still has her uniform hanging in her bedroom.

"It's the first thing I look at when I wake up in the morning and if I was to start over I'd do the same thing," said Lynch. "I still miss the military and I would still be in if I could. The feeling that I got protecting my country makes me proud."

Lynch claims that accepting what transpired is the key to maintaining a productive and happy life."

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#9 User is offline   Soprano84 

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Posted 22 February 2005 - 09:37 PM

QUOTE (patience @ Feb 22 2005, 07:40 PM)


Lynch claims that accepting what transpired is the key to maintaining a productive and happy life."[/b]

And thus, she proves herself smarter than most people she's likely to meet...
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#10 User is offline   mainzman 

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  Posted 22 February 2005 - 11:20 PM

I have said it so many times in the past, but it needs to be said again. Jessica will always be a role model. Her strength and perseverance is something everyone can and must learn from!!
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