Petition to condemn attempts to discredit the awarding of the Bronze Star to PFC Jessica Lynch

To:Secretary of the Army
and Steven A. Hass, creator of 'The Revoke the PFC Jessica Lynch Bronze Star Medal Petition to Secretary of the Army' (http://www.petitiononline.com/Revoke/petition.html)

PETITION TO CONDEMN MR. HASS' EFFORT TO REVOKE BRONZE STAR AWARDED 22 JULY 03 TO
JESSICA LYNCH,
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS,
507th MAINTENANCE COMPANY,
U.S. ARMY
FOR SERVICE IN IRAQ

Mr. Hass has distorted this case to the public in his effort to gather support for his petition. I and those who support this petition find the following 'facts' cited by Mr. Hass to be misrepresented:

Misrepresented 'fact' - "PFC Lynch suffered wounds from a vehicle accident during an ambush, was taken to a hospital, and treated for her wounds."

Real Fact: U.S. military intelligence officers believe Lynch's injuries were inflicted after she and other survivors surrendered. "This poor girl," said one Special Forces captain involved in her rescue. He's among three military intelligence sources who say she was standing when she surrendered, and had minor injuries at most. That was confirmed by Mehdi Kafaji, the Iraqi orthopedic surgeon who was in charge of her treatment at the hospital in An Nasiriya. - Newsweek - July 21, 2003

Perhaps a near-fatal beating is Mr. Hass' idea of an 'accident.'


Another misrepresented 'fact' - PFC Lynch, while in a military convoy in Iraq, survived an ambush by the Iraqi military, and was subsequently taken to an Iraqi hospital and treated for her wounds. She remained in the Iraqi hospital, and under the commendable care of the Iraqi medical staff, whom she praised for the treatment and care that they showed her, until she was returned to American forces.

Real fact: (Dr. Ahmed) Muhsin said Lynch's guards beat her and tried to stop doctors from checking on her more than twice a day, but that he and others on the staff would give her biscuits, oranges, milk and medicine from their own limited supplies.
"She suffered from [the soldiers]," he said. "Largely she suffered from them." - http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/04/20/sprj.irq.lynch.hospital/index.html


Perhaps Mr. Hass thinks being beaten by thugs while gravely injured is 'commendable care.'

To The Secretary Of The Army: The Awarding of the Bronze Star to PFC Jessica Lynch was the right decision. Do not allow a few bitter, envious people use distortion and dis-information to pressure you into committing a terrible injustice.



"The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded for meritorious achievement or meritorious service according to the following: Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or meritorious service." - http://www.americal.org/awards/achv-svc.htm