Former Iraq POW Jessica Lynch urges Turlock students to persevere in life

Jessica Lynch got caught in an ambush in the early days of the U.S. war with Iraq and suffered injuries that nearly cost her a leg.

She lived to tell about it, and 11 years later, students at Turlock High School heard her story.

Lynch, an Army private first class and supply clerk, was part of a convoy attacked by opposition forces as it made its way toward Nasiriyah in March 2003. Eleven fellow soldiers died in the attack, and Lynch was captured and taken to a hospital by Iraqis who later abandoned her.

“I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh, I don’t know what I’ve got to do, but I’ve got to persevere,’” Lynch said Friday. She was rescued by U.S. Special Forces nine days later in an operation that drew much media attention.

Lynch spoke at a pair of morning assemblies at Turlock High, then was to speak at an evening fundraiser for the Turlock Gospel Mission. The sold-out dinner benefits a year-round homeless shelter that is nearing completion.

Lynch returned to her native West Virginia after her Army service and became an elementary school teacher. She spends part of her time as a substitute teacher and travels often to speak to Christian groups and other audiences.

Lynch, 19 at the time, became the first female prisoner of war after the military allowed women in combat roles. She told the high school students that she had joined the Army after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, little knowing what lay ahead for her.

Lynch said she was unconscious after the ambush, with injuries suffered when the Humvee she was riding in collided with an 18-wheel truck. She recalled watching day turn to night several times as she lay in the hospital. At one point, she heard that an Iraqi surgeon planned to amputate her mangled leg. That did not happen, but she did have a rusty, oversize rod inserted into it, worsening her condition.

Lynch has had more than 20 surgeries for leg, back and other injuries since returning from Iraq. She told the students “how blessed I am to have survived the ambush and to be able to come and speak to groups like this.” She urged the same perseverance by students in applying to college, getting over breakups and other challenges in life.

Lt. Cmdr. Carlos Montanez, an instructor in the Navy ROTC program at Turlock High, helped arrange Lynch’s visit. “Her story of recovery, and everything she has done since then, is equally amazing,” he said.

Sophomore Allie Carpenter, who plans to join ROTC, said she hopes to follow Lynch’s example of what a woman can do in the military. Sophomore Alyssa Reeves, another future member, agreed.

“Her story just inspired me to never give up on my dream, and my dream is to fight for my country and be a Marine,” she said.

This story was originally published November 7, 2014 at 5:18 PM with the headline "Former Iraq POW Jessica Lynch urges Turlock students to persevere in life."