Former POW Jessica Lynch finishing teaching degree

By VICKI SMITH

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Jessica Lynch was just 19 when the world first saw her — a broken, blond soldier caught on combat video in Iraq, her face wearing something between a grimace and a grin.

The Army supply clerk was being carried on a stretcher after nine days as a prisoner of war. She had been captured along with five others after the 507th Maintenance Company took a wrong turn and came under attack in Nasiriyah on March 23, 2003. Eleven of her fellow soldiers died.

Lynch had joined the Army at 18 to earn money for college and become a school teacher. This Friday, at 28, she completes that mission.

She'll spend Thursday finishing her training as a student teacher at the same elementary school she attended in sparsely populated Wirt County. Then, on badly damaged legs and a right foot that still pains her, she'll walk across a stage Friday evening and get her education degree from West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

"It's tough to walk, but I look at it as, 'At least I'm walking,'" she says. "At least I have my legs. They may not work. I have no feeling in the left one. But it's attached, at least. ... At least I'm alive."

Nearly 4,500 Americans died and some 32,000 were wounded during the war in Iraq, winding down this month as the last American troops withdraw. The first woman lost was Lynch's friend and fellow soldier, 23-year-old Army Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa of Arizona, killed in the convoy attack.

http://news.yahoo.com/former-pow-jessica-lynch-finishing-teaching-degree-092632256.html

I hope you’ll will join me this weekend down at the Dew Drop Inn while we raise a glass or two to Jessica Lynch and all the Jessica Lynch’s across this great Nation. I can think of no better example of perseverance and courage and no finer example to pass on to our children than this Lady and many more of our Quiet Heroes like her. Then we will raise a glass to her friends who will never get the opportunity to pass on their courage to our children even though it was their fondest desire.

As always my thanks and appreciation to our hosts for their time, giving me a little place to stand, a subject to comment on, a forum to put it in, and their indulgence when I don’t quite get it right or get a little off subject. I purely do appreciate it. Hope you’ll have a fine weekend and good fun among folks that you know and love. To my fellow participants keep well, keep safe, and keep the faith. We’ll make it. See you’ll next week

Betty About that Leg Lamp. We've done run into a little problem. See WCA found out that Bob Numbers had made off with the other one. So WCA felt it was only fair for him to get a shot of leg too. Threatened to hold a Filibuster( in the best Yahoo tradition) in front of the Dew Drop Inn so we couldn't open up. So I had to let him cozy up to it to keep him from holding hostages. I'll get it back directly I'm sure but you may want to give a lot of consideration to that and let me get you another. No telling what condition that one will be when I get it back.

Will be along soon friends, get started as I have a few things to attend.

To our hosts here at FR, many thanks for your hard work and long hours, they will, I know, be longer in the coming weeks. Much obliged for your patience and kindness and wish you and you families all the blessings of the season.

To all my friends here I wish you much peace, love and charity. Have a Blessed Holiday Season, whatever your beliefs.

Hey Feisty and IR: wait for MEEEEEEE! On my way with my giftie all wrapped in happy Santa Claus paper! Been out and about today and it looks like our stores are doing a business. Hope everyone is ready for the happiness of the week to come. What oh what have we learned? We have learned that the Republicans have not been very good this year and Santa is not going to fill their stocking with the one thing they desire....a candidate for President that does not look crazy. Between Newtie declaring war on a branch of government, and planning a coup d' etat, and Bachman and Santorum with their war on women and children, Romney with his war on consistency, Perry with his war on intelligence, this bunch just can't get along with anyone. While the entertainment has been fun, you really don't want these people in charge of anything! The Republican Party also seems to be declaring war on anyone voting that is not them. That voter suppression thing is going to get all of you Republicans big lumps of coal in your sock.

Mark, Domenico and staff, my thanks to you for letting us all come here and sound off. It just doesn't get much more interesting then First Read some days.

I am headed to the Dew Drop Inn, to join in the holiday celebration. I hear the egg nog is charged up really nicely, and I can't wait to get a cup.

Have a good weekend one and all.

I'll get it back directly I'm sure but you may want to give a lot of consideration to that and let me get you another.

Good point Floyd!

They do have a perverted penchant for 'riding' things...

We need to look into some better security! lol

Definitely hard to believe Christmas is so close. This Iowan is tired of the GOPers calling me to ask which one I'll support in the GOP caucus, never mind that I've never been a registered republican in Iowa. Romney's called every day this week and last week. Just a bit ago he robo-called to play me the audio of the Pelosi/Gingrich TV ad about global warming, then threw in Newt's excuse for making it and warn me that Newt's just another liberal. January 3 cannot come fast enough.

Many thanks to our First Read hosts for the excellent site and for letting us "have at it" without fussing at us much.

I hear Al Franken's Senate Secret Santa idea was a success. There was a lot of coal in those packages. As Joe Manchin quipped, 61 senators took part and it was the first time they broke the filibuster.

Betty, Floyd, I'm ready for the big bash at the Dew Drop Inn tonight for sure. These GOP candidates calling all the time are driving me to drink. Floyd, glad to hear where that leg lamp went; no doubt, it'll never be the same.

I've done spiked the eggnog and got the goodie table all loaded down and ready!

A Christmas Carol INDEED! Thanks, hosts! I mentioned the Jacob Marley/GNOP parallel earlier this week; but it bears repeating,...Dicken's was a socialist!

Happy last round of Holiday Parties! And may G-d Bless us, everyone!

Already working on it Betty. Got the BullRiding Bouncer bringing in his brother the Bareback Bronco Rider. So you won't be disapointed for Christmas. We're also going to get two or three extras to spred around our "Riding" friends. Don't know what you're going to do about the shade. Last I saw it Old Buzzy was having a high old time with it

IR, just finishing reading your comment about Jessica Lynch; excellent as always. What a great Christmas gift for her, her teaching degree.

So many brave young men and women struggling because of injury but never losing spirit. A toast to all who served--to those who came home and to those who gave their last full measure of devotion. Lest we forget that war has a price beyond dollars.

May Scrooge Teapublicans be visited by the the Ghosts of Christmas (their constituents) over the holidays, and return in January to pass the payroll tax holiday and UE benefits for 2012, paid for by a teeny tiny surtax on a teeny tiny number of super rich folk who need to pay their fair share for the betterment of our great nation.

Are you looking for something in your size?...:-)

Dangerfield, why? Do you happen to have extras in a 36 long?

I'm a 40 regular...Ma'am...;-)

Dang, that's a lot of body in those sized pants! :) Liberal waistline!!! lol!

It's been a long time since I read the book. With so many plays and movies, there's no shortages of reminders.

Would be nice if the GOPers who denigrate the poor, the unemployed had a 3-ghost experience; maybe they'd also have a change of heart.

Hitch was one of a kind, a true iconoclast...we are all poorer for his loss...

We really are the poorer for his loss. Loved listening to him on the various shows he was on. Always learned something, was always entertained. We need thinkers like him, to shake up the status quo.

It is a great loss. He made you think even if what he said seemed outrageous and contrary, you still walked away having learned something beyond your own world view, beyond what so many others were saying; you often heard something that changed your mind or at least made you think about your position. Rest in peace, Christopher Hitchens.

So true, Amy.

lisa: hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday week!

Newday, Thank you for the good wishes. Same to you and your family.

Thanks, lisa

They can definitely expect a visit from the three ghosts, Progressive.

Bah humbug Progressive. Nothing but coal in your stocking this year!

Thanks for the chuckle mad russian.