Overcoming Adversity with former Prisoner of War, Jessica Lynch

Flex Your Freedom with Barb Allen

Jessica Lynch was just a teenager when she enlisted in the United States Army. It was pre-9/11 when young Jessica signed on that dotted line. She and her family knew war was always a potential possibility, but didn't dwell on it.

Then 9/11 came, and everything changed. Nineteen-y-ear-old Private First class Jessica Lynch deployed to Iraq and was captured by enemy forces. Eleven of her friends died as a result of the incident that led to her capture, while others were captured with her. On April 1, 2003, Jessica's dramatic rescue became national news.

While Jessica struggled to heal from her significant injuries as well as process her grief and trauma, media outlets ran amuck with their headlines. One false story after another appeared, compounding Jessica's stress.

Finally, when she was officially discharged from the military several months later, Jessica was free to tell her story publicly.

Today, twenty years later, Jessica still tells her story, along with the story of her own growth and recovery. Her soft spoken, almost shy demeanor presents a stark contrast with the intensity and courage of her story.

In this episode, Jessica shares some of her story with us, as well as lessons she has pulled from her experiences. Here are a few topics touched upon:

• How Jessica was captured
• Military service as a teenager
• Snippets of Jessica's experience as a POW
• What it's like to have your personal pain and struggles, become national news
• Inaccuracy of the media reports, and the impact that had on Jessica
• Grief
• PTSD and Survivor's Guilt
• Rebuilding her life

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