PALMETTO, Fla. — Jessica Lynch, the first American prisoner of war successfully rescued since WW II, shared her story Tuesday night at the Manatee County Fair.
- Lynch taken as POW by Iraqi forces in 2003, later rescued
- Suffered broken back, legs, feet during ordeal
- Visit part of Veterans' Tribute Night
- More Manatee County stories
Lynch was a U.S. Army private first class who was captured by Iraqi forces in 2003. Her convoy was ambushed on March 23 and she was taken as a prisoner of war at an Iraqi hospital.
The nine days she spent in captivity are still clear in her mind.
“I remember the chaos the most,” she said. “I didn’t have any food. I wasn’t given any water or pain medication.”
She had a broken back, legs, and feet. An Iraqi doctor had taken out her femur and replaced it with a metal rod.
She was successfully rescued on April 1 by U.S. special operations forces.
“One of the best moments of my life is when those rangers came ripping through the door. I remember one of them ripping his American Flag off his uniform and placing it into my hand,” she said. “He said, 'we’re American soldiers and we’re here to take you home.'”
Once she arrived back to the United States, another battle began. Lynch said the recovery from the emotional trauma was harder than her physical recovery.
“I didn’t want to talk to anybody,” she said. “I wanted to do it on my own.”
Nearly 17 years later, Lynch is still in physical therapy for her injuries. She’s also a mom, a fiancée, and working as a teacher.
"I'm happy, I couldn't have asked for anything more of being here,” she said.
She spoke at the Manatee County Fair on January 21 as part of Veterans’ Tribute Night.