Heroism

Heroism, or Something Else

By Stan G. Kain

28 October 2003

Do you remember U.S. Army Private Jessica Lynch, the supply clerk, rescued from an Iraqi hospital? Do you remember Mohammed al-Rehaief, the Iraqi attorney who purportedly implemented her rescue? If you don't remember Mohammed, don't feel too badly. Jessica seems to have forgotten her debt to him, as well.

Pentagon press releases told how Jessica suffered capture by the Iraqi's, after her unit was lost during the first days of the Iraq war. Pentagon reports expounded on how Jessica suffered stab wounds, bullet wounds and was slapped about on her hospital bed by interrogators. Proudly, the Pentagon related how Army Rangers and Navy Seals stormed the hospital in Nassiriya, rescuing Jessica from her captors.

U.S. military night vision cameras captured the entire scenario, as American troops shot their way into the hospital. Public relations officers at the Pentagon could ask for little more in bolstering support for the war. Jessica became an American hero for the U.S. Army. She returned home, was honored with medals, a medical discharge, a book contract telling her story and a hero's welcome in her West Virginia hometown.

British journalists and Iraqi hospital staff tell another story. In my journalism experience, British reporters are quite reliable, especially in reporting non-British news. I think we still consider them as allies in the Iraq matter, too. British reports substantiated one large part of the Iraqi hospital story. One story; two versions. In the words of British Army spokesman, Group Captain Al Lockwood, “In reality, we had two different styles of news media management. I feel fortunate to have been part of the U.K. one.”

Iraqi hospital staff explained that Jessica suffered no bullet or stab wounds. In fact, she suffered from a broken arm, broken thigh and a dislocated ankle.. The wounds were typical for the road accident she suffered. Iraqi doctors assigned one of the two remaining nurses on the floor to Jessica, giving her the only specialist bed in the hospital. They also gave Jessica three bottles of blood, two donated by hospital staff, since there was a blood shortage in the city.

One Iraqi doctor explains how he even attempted to return Jessica to the Americans, risking his own life. He put her in an ambulance and tried to drive her to an American military checkpoint. Nearing the checkpoint, American soldiers began to fire, causing the ambulance to make a hasty retreat, with Jessica still in Iraqi hands.

Iraqi military forces had fled the hospital a day before the Americans staged their heroic rescue. An Iraqi waiter had told American troops there were no guards at the hospital. In Hollywood style, U.S. troops rushed the hospital, helicopters overhead, shooting their way through the doors, even after being offered the keys. Iraqi doctors and even a patient were handcuffed to the beds, during the raid.

The Pentagon claimed that Mohammed al-Rehaief, the Iraqi attorney, provided the whereabouts of Jessica Lynch, which was instrumental in her rescue. Mr. al-Rehaief lost an eye, after a bomb exploded during his escape. The American government rewarded Mr. al-Rehaief and his family with asylum in the U.S. The al-Rehaief family received another honor this week. They were invited to Palestine, West Virginia, home of former Army Private Jessica Lynch.

The al-Rehaief's receieved a four day tour of the town, including a trip to see a garden planted in their honor. The State of West Virgina gave the family a reception and gifts, including an “Almost Heaven, West Virginia,” lapel pin. I'm sure they were pleased with the attention. There is something they didn't receive, though. They didn't get to meet with Jessica Lynch.

The Lynch family attorney said Jessica was too busy with five-day-a-week rehabilitation from her injuries and commitments related to next month's release of her book. Can you imagine that? Jessica Lynch was too busy, although the family was in her hometown for four days, to spend five minutes with the man who allegedly saved her life? As an American, I'm embarrassed for the treatment given the al-Rehaief family by Jessica Lynch.

Jessica Lynch may be many things, but a hero is not one of those things. Jessica Lynch is the victim of a vehicle accident. Jessica Lynch is a part to Pentagon propaganda, or a victim of the same, if she truly doesn't remember the incident, as she says. Yes, I know about heroes. There were heroes with my father on Iwo Jima, during World War II. There were heroes on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. There were heroes in the rice fields of Vietnam. The al-Rehaief's are heroes, maintaining their composure after being snubbed by Jessica Lynch. There are heroes each and every day right here in in America. Jessica Lynch did nothing to share a place of honor with these people.

I am sure Jessica Lynch is very busy with her new book. I'm wondering how long it will take to write this piece of fiction, considering that Jessica claims she can't remember anything of the Iraq incident. If she cannot remember, is the story going to be a fantasy tale written by Pentagon public relations officials? Possibly so.

I would suggest that before she writes a book, Jessica Lynch should read a book. She might begin with something written by “Miss Manners.” Jessica Lynch needs to be reminded that nothing in her busy schedule should be more important than personally thanking a man, considered to be the enemy, for saving her life. Thanking a man who saved her life, if you choose to accept the Pentagon story of her rescue.

If you have questions or comments, please email Stan.

©2003 Stan G. Kain