WASHINGTON (April 1) - American troops rescued Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, who had been held as a prisoner of war in Iraq since she and other members of her unit were ambushed March 23, the Defense Department announced Tuesday.

Lynch, 19, of Palestine, W.Va., had been missing since nine days ago with 11 other U.S. soldiers from the 507th Maintenance Company. The unit was ambushed near Nasiriyah after making a wrong turn during early fighting in the invasion of Iraq. Five other members of her unit were later shown on Iraqi television answering questions from their Iraqi captors.

Lynch had been listed as missing in action but was identified by the Pentagon Tuesday as a POW. She was not among the seven U.S. soldiers - including the five from the 507th shown on television - formally listed as prisoners of war.

Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks at Central Command headquarters in Qatar announced that a U.S. POW had been captured but refused to provide any further details.

In a brief statement, Brooks said: ''Coalition forces have conducted a successful rescue mission of a U.S. Army prisoner of war held captive in Iraq. The soldier has been returned to a coalition-controlled area.''

Central Command officials in Qatar, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Lynch was rescued from a hospital in Iraq.

Fifteen other Americans are formally listed as missing. The other POWs include two Army Apache helicopter pilots captured March 24 after their helicopter went down.

Relatives and friends said Lynch, a supply clerk, joined the Army to get an education and follow her dream of becoming a teacher. Her older brother, Gregory, is a member of the National Guard.

The 507th Maintenance was attacked during some of the first fighting in Nasiriyah, a Euphrates River-crossing city where sporadic battles have raged since U.S. troops first reached it. Troops and military officials have said much of the fighting there has involved members of the Fedayeen Saddam and other Iraqi paramilitaries who have dressed as civilians and ambushed Americans.

Lynch, an aspiring teacher, joined the Army to get an education and take advantage of a rare opportunity in a farming community with an unemployment rate of 15 percent - one of the highest in West Virginia.

She was also following in the footsteps of her older brother Gregory, a National Guard member based in Fort Bragg, N.C. Jessica enlisted through the Army's delayed-entry program before graduating from Wirt County High School in Elizabeth.

''You would not believe the joys, cries, bawling, hugging, screaming, carrying on,'' said Lynch's cousin, Pam Nicolais, when asked Tuesday about the rescue. ''You just have to be here.''

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., called the rescue a miracle.

''God watched over Jessica and her family,'' Rockefeller said through a spokesman in Washington. ''All of West Virginia is rejoicing. This is an amazing tribute to the skill and courage of our military.''

Rick,

I don't understand your point, is this your way of saying you have changed you opinions???? This is about the third "gee I turned a new leaf" post I have read, we are the same age and can't beleive it took you so long to have a change of heart, of something that was so well known, something I would suspect from a 18 year old. Makes me want to throw up.

And I repeat, does this also mean you have changed your pro views of killing babies too, Mr. Humanitarian????????

CulleyJC52

what are you talking about? i see nothing wrong with having concern about men and women who are in a war and still being against the war. one has nothing to do with the other and that is a problem you haven't worked out for yourself.

when were you born? i don't think we are close to each other in age.

always remove shoes when you puke. easier to wash your feet then clean your shoes.



"pro views of killing babies" what the hell are you talking about?

very truly yours,

mr humanitarian.

Come on Rick,

All the post, where you were against the war, all the post on how stupid our President was, all the other idiotic post you have done in the past, just, in my opinion to create static and draw attention to yourself.

And what do you mean shoes, I'm wearing boots.

And Rick,

In a previous post you said born in August - 1952, or, was this just another lie.

Uh, I think 1952 is about when Rick joined the Air Force.

That'd be my guess xrundog more like born 1932.

Jimbo "staying out of this one" Johnson :0)

His age all depends upon what story he is telling

I dont see anything that should bother anybody, in this post. Just my opinion.
And you all should know by now I dont favor Ricks post, as a general rule.

Mag

Mag, It's not just this post, it's all the other goody two shoes post in the past few weeks, compared to all the previously post, where Rick was constantly degrading our govermont, president, etc.,

This is my point, this man has no basis for any of his opinions, he just throws stuff on the wall to see what sticks, which is damn few times. I object to his dramatic flip/flop, to me it's still the same crap, except this time you guys are applauding him. Next month, you'll have a different opinion of him. He should stick to the cigar post, which I admit he is excellent at, but, he should refrain from any political form.

I want to make it perfectly clear to everyone one more time, being anti-bush and anti-war does NOT mean you are anti-troops!

I have been reading Rickmaven's posts and see he is firmly against Bush's policy and the reasons for war. I also see that Rick has posted stories of brave soldiers who serve their country well and who are able to be couragoues during times of crisis. He is human and sees the goodness in our soldiers and wants to share their stories with us. Its a great post Rick! Keep them coming.

choner

Choner,

Rick is Pro Abortion, but, I quess accordainly to your standards, it doesn't necessarily mean Rick is Pro killing babies????????

So if I get this right, you and Rick, could go to Iraq and meet with our soldiers and tell them you support them but you think their current duty sucks. I wonder how many times the two of you would get knocked on your ass before you would finally get it.

One more thing, I repeat, this is not about this one post. The is about all the past dumb post where the vast majoity thought his opinion sucked. Now he has the revelation to post subjects that we all are suppose to love him for.

Let me get my boots on again, think I going to throw up.

Yikes, some of you guys are kinda harsh. Is it so hard to believe that a person can oppose this war and still be concerned about the troops? That's not so complicated.

CulleyJC52

i think when you brought the abortion issue into play, you are 1. trying to change the subject and 2. hanging on by your fingernails.

I DO NOT LIKE THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

I HOPE THAT NO MORE OF OUR MILITARY GETS HURT OR KILLED.


that picture of a 19 year old girl who should be safe and was in the hands of savages is hard to deal with.

CulleyJC52

"His age all depends upon what story he is telling"

dob 08/15/32

military (af) 01/53 to 10/57, celebrated 21st birthday crossing the equater, seperated, RIF. honorable dischare 01/61.


it is nice of you to ask, i'll look forward to a card from you on my birthday.

""""it is nice of you to ask, i'll look forward to a card from you on my birthday. """""

Maybe a nice gift certificate from cigarbid?

BOMB THE PROTESTORS!!

Sorry Rick,

Savages????????????????????????

Not more than a month ago, you were on your high horse, saying, what has Iraq done to bother anyone. Now they are savages, people that place there own people as human shields, a country where 5% of the population controls the other 95% through constant terror, they have probable tortured our people as they have done there own, you know they did torture our troops in the last action. Rick, what do you disagree about this war, is it because our President is doing something about it????

Not like Clinton that did a token bombing because Monica was caught smoking his cigar, did you agree with this administration with there handling of Iraq????

As to the Killing Babies, it was not meant to side track this issue, but, only meant to be yet another example of your flip/flop, wishy/washy, opinions.

Savages?????????? Are you that ignorate to think if Sadam had completed arming his country, he would not use them against innocent parties?????

So Rick, please help me again, you support our troops, please help me understand exacting what is it that you disagree with in the mission our troops have been sent to do???????????? You have never in all you post, really put forth an effort to substantiate your opinion. Like I said, you like to throw stuff on the wall and waits to see what sticks.

Excuse me as I get my boots on again, awaiting your reply, or, you will do what you have done in other post. Instead of finshing, you cowEr away.

It's politically expedient to say "I support the troops" because people would attack like a swarm of bees anyone who said otherwise... I'm not saying anyone does not, just that it would be so obviously inflammatory, I think those who otherwise may be more bold with their discontent are relegated to "acceptance" of the troops. I agree that to support the troops means, kick ass, take names, kill the enemy, and end the conflict. Sort out the political differences later. We're not talking about tax policy here. An F18 was just shot down... My opinion…