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Scar Tissue: Former POW Jessica Lynch shares story of perseverance at Disabled American Veterans convention

PARKERSBURG -- The Disabled American Veterans Department of West Virginia held its annual state convention Saturday morning, where Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance Ted Diaz and West Virginia's first Women Veterans Program Administrator and former Prisoner of War (POW) Jessica Lynch were guest speakers.

Lynch joined the army in 2001 and was deployed to Kuwait in February 2003. Her team's mission was to follow a convoy. On the second day of this mission, they began to fall behind due to carrying heavy machinery and occasionally getting stuck. Lynch and her team continued to lag behind and they eventually got lost, as their GPS and radios stopped working. The team found the city of Nasiriyah and went towards it, thinking it was their lost convoy.

Lynch noted when they entered the city, Iraqi people came out and watched them. Lynch described as the team was turning around, they were ambushed, and in the ambush, the team scattered.

"We just needed to get out of there," said Lynch.

Lynch noted at some point she was knocked unconscious. Lynch narrated that the Hummer she was in was hit by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) and she lost her friend from a serious head injury from the crash. After the crash, Lynch said the three other men in the vehicle with her were shot. The enemy soldiers that found her noticed she was unconscious but still breathing. Lynch said they took her to one of Saddam Hussein's nearby palaces, where they broke multiple of her bones and replaced one of her bones with a contaminated metal rod that was too big for her frame. Lynch also noted they removed her military clothing.

At some point, Lynch woke up in an Iraqi hospital surrounded by Iraqi men. Lynch noted this moment was the one she noticed she couldn't move because of her injuries. Lynch said the Iraqi men were going to amputate her leg, but after she broke down crying they did not.

Lynch said after that the men were going to take her to an American checkpoint, but they instead left her in an abandoned building. Lynch said she heard a commotion outside the building, but she stayed quiet so she would not be found by enemy soldiers. Lynch said the men who left her in the building came back and took her back to the hospital at which she was later rescued.

After Lynch was rescued, she said she was taken to Germany so she and others could figure out what happened to her.

"That was one thing I knew about myself," Lynch said. "I knew I was going to persevere."

Lynch also spoke about what she has done with the Women Veterans program. Lynch noted they have already helped many women who have not gotten their benefits. She noted they have also had men reach out for help.

Diaz spoke about the many things the state of West Virginia has done for veterans and their families and the state and national pride that the state holds within its borders.

"We pride ourselves on being the most patriotic state in the nation," said Diaz.

During his speech, Diaz said one in ten adult West Virginians are veterans. Diaz also noted in 2023, total Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) expenditures in West Virginia was $3.3 billion. Diaz said $1.1 billion from that money was a "direct monetary benefit to veterans and their families."

"We as a state have to create an environment for veterans and their families," said Diaz. "We have to create an environment they want to come home to."

During his speech, Diaz noted West Virginia Governor Jim Justice included a property tax cut for veterans as part of tax revisions in 2023. This tax cut will give 100% property tax credit to veterans with 90 to 100% disability if the disability was caused from injuries they endured during service.

Diaz also spoke about hopes for plans on a physical veterans hall of fame during his speech at the convention.

To finish off his speech, Diaz spoke about the new West Virginia Women Veterans program directed by Lynch.

"The thing I'm most proud of," said Diaz.

Diaz explained this program will help women veterans who have suffered sexual or other trauma during their time of service and are "too afraid" to claim veterans assistance.

"It's an honor to be in this position to help veterans all across the state," said Diaz.

"I am so proud to have (Lynch) on staff with us," added Diaz. "I honestly couldn't think of a better women's advocate."

Clara Noelle can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com.