Posted on May 16, 2016
Expert questions Silver Stars for SEALs in Jessica Lynch rescue
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It is sad that 13 years after the heroic rescue of Army Pvt. Jessica Lynch in Iraq in 2003 "expert - Dwight Mears, a former West Point history professor " is questioning the award of the Silver Star to two SEALs for their roles in the "controversial rescue " of Pvt. Lynch because of differences in the language of the citations.
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LTC Stephen F.
If you look at what I posted Cpl Mark McMiller, I mentioned en-route and the transportation back. Planning, recon, etc. took place and other activities that are highly classified.
I had to chuckle at your comment [not you] "the rescue and has been talked about by those involved, including Jessica Lynch and the hospital staff who were there."
1. None of the operational team members have discussed the operation.
2. All film was screened before it was released. [I spent 15 years working in/assigned to offices in the Pentagon].
3. This operation was conducted most likely after recon, intelligence activity, specific drills to prepare the team(s) for the raid, etc.
4. The level of valor sufficient for justification of award for Silver Star is a high bar. The incident does not need to include casualties or deaths [that are overt].
Just as the assault that took out Osama Bin laden was "covered and recorded" and no significant resistance was encountered, the details of that operation and what was taken out and the Intel gleaned from it will be classified for decades to come.
I had to chuckle at your comment [not you] "the rescue and has been talked about by those involved, including Jessica Lynch and the hospital staff who were there."
1. None of the operational team members have discussed the operation.
2. All film was screened before it was released. [I spent 15 years working in/assigned to offices in the Pentagon].
3. This operation was conducted most likely after recon, intelligence activity, specific drills to prepare the team(s) for the raid, etc.
4. The level of valor sufficient for justification of award for Silver Star is a high bar. The incident does not need to include casualties or deaths [that are overt].
Just as the assault that took out Osama Bin laden was "covered and recorded" and no significant resistance was encountered, the details of that operation and what was taken out and the Intel gleaned from it will be classified for decades to come.
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Cpl Mark McMiller
LTC Stephen F. - The level of valor sufficient for justification of award of the Silver Star is, "gallantry in action." From the article, there was no such reference to anything resembling gallantry in action on the two Silver Star award citations. But you're free to believe whatever you want.
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LTC Stephen F.
You seem to be beating a dead horse Cpl Mark McMiller.
1. It seems, you are basing your thoughts on what you read in non-classified news articles.
2. We don't have visibility of the document which justified the Silver Star awards. Everybody who has received a medal which requires justification, knows that the document provides details which are not included on the actual citation [classified information cannot be included on the citation. When we draft the recommendations for awards, we need to omit any language which is classified.
3. From the tenor of your comments you seem to believe that those who submitted the recommendation for award, those who reviewed the request and those who approved it are either corrupt or fools.
It is my firm opinion, that those who recommended the award and reviewed and approved it are honorable and they knew what they were doing when they submitted the awards.
FYI LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA CPT Gabe Snell LTC Jeff Shearer LTC Greg Henning LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephen C. COL Mikel J. Burroughs COL Charles Williams
1. It seems, you are basing your thoughts on what you read in non-classified news articles.
2. We don't have visibility of the document which justified the Silver Star awards. Everybody who has received a medal which requires justification, knows that the document provides details which are not included on the actual citation [classified information cannot be included on the citation. When we draft the recommendations for awards, we need to omit any language which is classified.
3. From the tenor of your comments you seem to believe that those who submitted the recommendation for award, those who reviewed the request and those who approved it are either corrupt or fools.
It is my firm opinion, that those who recommended the award and reviewed and approved it are honorable and they knew what they were doing when they submitted the awards.
FYI LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA CPT Gabe Snell LTC Jeff Shearer LTC Greg Henning LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephen C. COL Mikel J. Burroughs COL Charles Williams
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Cpl Mark McMiller
LTC Stephen F. - Yes, it is my opinion that those who submitted the recommendation for award, those who reviewed the request, and those who approved it are either corrupt or fools, and I'll also add incompetent. And there is plenty of evidence to back that up. One great example is Pat Tillman. Another great example is Douglas MacArthur.
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A "controversial" rescue? BS! Anytime we can get a soldier back by whatever means, it is right and honorable to do so.
The Army Times writer says she was sexually assaulted. That's terrible journalism. POWs are often horribly abused, sexually and otherwise. If she were a man, no one would have asked the question, and no news outlet would have publicized it. The stories I have heard from POWs are the worst kind of nightmare material. The media MUST NOT force ex-POWs to relive their sexual abuse.
The Army Times writer says she was sexually assaulted. That's terrible journalism. POWs are often horribly abused, sexually and otherwise. If she were a man, no one would have asked the question, and no news outlet would have publicized it. The stories I have heard from POWs are the worst kind of nightmare material. The media MUST NOT force ex-POWs to relive their sexual abuse.
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Cpl Mark McMiller
Capt Michael Greene Except, Jessica Lynch, herself, says she was not abused by anyone, which is backed up by the Iraqi hospital staff who treated her. The thing that is controversial about the rescue is that there was no resistance whatsoever, which correctly begs the question of what did any of the rescuers do to deserve silver stars. The official story of the rescue from the Pentagon was a contrived dog and pony show.
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Capt Michael Greene
Thanks for introducing the argument to me. I make no assertions about the action or the medals. The big deal to me is that we got her back, and quick, just like we should.
Could you point me to evidence for calling it a "contrived dog and pony show." Did the US expect no resistance? If we knew for certain there would be absolutely no hostile resistance, what should we have differently? What about the whole show made it "contrived"? If DoD got a chance to wow the crowd and push up PR as a result, that seems like an added benefit. No?
Could you point me to evidence for calling it a "contrived dog and pony show." Did the US expect no resistance? If we knew for certain there would be absolutely no hostile resistance, what should we have differently? What about the whole show made it "contrived"? If DoD got a chance to wow the crowd and push up PR as a result, that seems like an added benefit. No?
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Cpl Mark McMiller
Capt Michael Greene - Nobody is saying Jessica Lynch didn't need to be rescued. Anyone who compares the Pentagon's version of the rescue that was released to the media to what those who were there, including Jessica Lynch, say happened would have be pretty stupid not to conclude the Pentagon's story was a contrived dog and pony show. This link has a collection of articles that were published that might shed some light for you:
http://thewe.cc/weplanet/news/armed_force/us/jessica_lynch.htm
http://thewe.cc/weplanet/news/armed_force/us/jessica_lynch.htm
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Capt Michael Greene
Thanks for adding to what I thought I knew, Cpl Mark McMiller. I read your references and some more. At the time, I saw the reports, read the book, saw the movie: POW issues are very important to me. Four thoughts dominate my mind now. First, Captain King made terrible errors all along the way, setting up a massacre, but I don't know if his training prepared him for this type of mission. It seems the whole transportation career field wasn't really prepared for combat in sand. Second, Pvt Lynch did fine. Her job, even after capture, was to continue her war, resist and escape if possible. All indications are that she performed well, gathering her strength and making friends with the nurses, which would be the best way to get good treatment and prepare to escape. Third, it's probably true that the hospital treated her well and those iraqis risked their lives to help Lynch. Fourth, the job of the US government in wartime includes taking every opportunity to build morale among GIs and civilians by using propaganda and highlighting the superiority of our troops, so they did.
Some bad things I see: Some detractors are saying "the whole thing" was a shameless PR stunt. Others say that since there was no resistance, our troops shouldn't have gone in kinetically. I read one post elsewhere saying that Lynch got the convoy lost, and so Lynch deserved her misfortune as a traitor!
I say the army transportation commanders should have developed better training and procedures after Gulf War One, well prior to the Iraq Invasion. And Lynch did good. As far as the Spec Ops rushing in--there is no other way. When you're invading a foreign country, you never know when some kid or old man with a rusty AK is going to try to defend his neighborhood against the invaders. Finally, the medals: It's standard practice to give medals in secret when there are sensitive ops. And sometimes the writing goes over the top. The writing sucked, but is not a crime.
All in all, I think people need to relax. The ONLY important thing is that we immediately put maximum effort into getting our soldier back and we succeeded.
Again, Mark, thanks for this opportunity to get on my soap box. --Mike
Some bad things I see: Some detractors are saying "the whole thing" was a shameless PR stunt. Others say that since there was no resistance, our troops shouldn't have gone in kinetically. I read one post elsewhere saying that Lynch got the convoy lost, and so Lynch deserved her misfortune as a traitor!
I say the army transportation commanders should have developed better training and procedures after Gulf War One, well prior to the Iraq Invasion. And Lynch did good. As far as the Spec Ops rushing in--there is no other way. When you're invading a foreign country, you never know when some kid or old man with a rusty AK is going to try to defend his neighborhood against the invaders. Finally, the medals: It's standard practice to give medals in secret when there are sensitive ops. And sometimes the writing goes over the top. The writing sucked, but is not a crime.
All in all, I think people need to relax. The ONLY important thing is that we immediately put maximum effort into getting our soldier back and we succeeded.
Again, Mark, thanks for this opportunity to get on my soap box. --Mike
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ALL Awards have gotten out of hand. Bronze Stars are given out like candy. Our society, which our military reflects, has become inundated with participation award mentality. Not everyone can be a winner. In life, there are winners and there are losers. That is the reality, and that reality needs to be reflected in how awards are given out.
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