Tonight's interview was a reality check (former POW's)

[JetMaxx]

Last night with Letterman was fun to watch -- tonight's interview on 60 Minutes II was the reality of what being a prisoner of war is all about...pain, blues, and agony from beginning to end. The interview with Dan Rather was taped just after noon yesterday, and just the look in Ron and David's eyes said it all

Those two brave American heroes will never be the same because of the fear and living hell on earth they experienced. Keep in mind these are tough guys...mavericks in a combat role that knew what it was to kill or be killed ("top guns"), and look into their eyes, listen to their words...the fear...and feelings of guilt that they failed. I now respect Ron, David, and all POW's more than ever -- because I know Ron Young Jr is no coward...few men in this neck of the woods are.

Compare what they endured to Pfc Jessica Lynch. A petite 19 year old teenager over there to serve America...but in a non-combat role. Jessica is no coward...she's a very brave young woman; but there's no way she was as mentally prepared for what went down as Ron and David...yet she suffered far more. Ron and David were trained extensively to survive as prisoners of war; how to survive.

According to Traci and Tammy, two female friends of mine here in Douglasville that also served in non combat roles after high school...Jessica wasn't.
Ron Young and David Williams are tough guys, able to take a lot of abuse. Jessica isn't...I know, because I have three sisters..all tomboys that grew up in the country; and I remember them at Jessica's age (Beth will be 19 in July). Yes, Pfc Lynch is a dedicated soldier and reportedly a tomboy....but eight weeks of basic training followed by eight weeks of specialized training in supplying troops doesn't prepare any 19 year old girl for an overwhelming ambush, for seeing her friends shot down, for being shot at and shot, for the hell on earth that happened to the 507th. It doesn't prepare her for being blown from a vehicle she took cover in by an RPG impact/ explosion.

US Army training for a non combat supply role doesn't prepare a 110 lb teenage girl to endure two broken legs (one in three places); a broken ankle, foot, right forearm, shoulder blade, broken ribs; fractured back vertebra, and a serious head wound...all at the same time; nor to be slapped repeatedly in the face while lying injured and helpless in a hospital bed. If Ron and David are experiencing pain and nightmares...serious trauma; can anyone else imagine the emotional and psychological agony Pfc Jessica Lynch has experienced?

Look into Ron's eyes, into David's eyes...then try to fathom what Jessica Lynch endured...the pain, the terror. David said he cried repeatedly, and was terrified. Ron said he was so scared, he spent 12 hours straight praying he'd survive to see his family again...praying for God to give him strength to endure another day. Compare what they endured to what Jessica is still enduring...lying battered and broken in a hospital bed for weeks now.

Anyone that watched that interview with Ron Young and David Williams this evening and can say anything except "God bless those two brave American heroes" is cold hearted.
To know what happened to Jessica Lynch, knows how she suffered, knows that she wasn't in Iraq to kill anyone, knows she wants to teach 5 year olds (which should tell you she's very kind hearted)...and calls her anything less than the bravest young woman they've ever seen, and a true American hero -- to call her anything less would take a heartless monster...a monster as cold and evil as Saddam Hussein ever dared to be.

GOD BLESS OUR BRAVE AMERICAN HEROES!!

[fixitmhn]

Perry,
Very well said. I too watched most of the interview, and you could see the fear and pain in their eyes. That interview was much more detailed than Letterman's, and their recounting really touched me. I too thought of Jessica and what she must have endured compared to these two brave American Heros, and my heart went out to her again. I'm sure she will have a long recovery period mentally as well as physically, but all reports say she is very determined, and I'm sure she will recover fully.