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Former Iraq POW Jessica Lynch shares her story

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    Army vet speaks out on 'Huckabee'

  • Duration 10:47
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Private first class.

Jessica Lynch joined the only way.

But the real education that she received was in Iraq where on March 23 2003.

Her convoy took a wrong turn.

And was ambushed by Iraqis.

She was captured and became the first American POW.

To be successfully rescued since war World War II.

On April 1 2003 US special operation -- of US army special forces.

Air force air rescue jumpers army Rangers and Navy SEALs -- landed in Iraq.

The mission to take home private Jessica -- At 1 AM they entered the Iraqi hospital where she was being held captive after securing the location they found privately.

Courses -- it has got here.

OK okay lynch was suffering from mental distress and severe physical injuries including several broken -- Within seven minutes of the first American boots hitting the ground lynch was on a helicopter headed for much needed medical attention.

After nine days in captivity.

-- nightmare was over and -- great -- Her rescue.

The -- rescue receive lots of news coverage and she was portrayed as a hero.

But she says she's not gonna take credit for something she didn't do and describes herself simply as a survivor.

-- you please welcome.

And he wrote -- -- Jessica Lynch Jessica -- I got -- -- every time I see that video.

I get choked up.

How old were you when that happened between nineteen years old -- That's not something supposed to happen to a nineteen year old young lady from West Virginia you're supposed to be out haven't dates and fund.

Not the end.

Captured by Iraqis and put in a hospital in heaven to be rescued in the middle of the night.

Now -- want to talk about why did you first decide that you wanted to join the -- what was that.

Well I was eighteen and my brother and I decided that since we are sick less than -- that we wanted to help I think coming out financially and not -- it's done through the burden of college because.

Right after me it was my sister said there was three of us I was really -- an agent.

We just -- and didn't want to have all that data on my parents and her brother decided.

Was silenced let's -- -- -- and be proud -- army soldier.

But this was before 9/11 the -- -- the war.

And so did you ever think OK you know I'm -- to go to the army and I'll probably be in combat.

Now actually it -- never crossed my mind that I went campaign bad I waited.

Get the education like they had promised ends I -- -- the travel opportunities and of course the of people that you need just the diversity I was filling -- comport to that but it was.

A lot on the travel Iowa on the travelers I like to you -- to see different parts of the world.

When you saw part of one that I don't think you really were planning on now you ended up in Iraq and in the night of the unit being attacked.

Your unit took a wrong turn got ambushed.

Eleven people out of that unit got killed five were captured and later rescued.

That the initial story came out.

That you had.

Discharge your Gagne had fire -- unit fought off the attackers.

That's not what happened so what did happen.

-- -- -- he fabricated stories that was.

It just circulating the media and I am I needed that as soon as I was able to get -- and tell my story that that's what I wanted to do I want -- that set the record straight and and how I'm unfortunately during the ambush I was knocked on conscience and and that's I was that bad to me that.

Wasn't he -- I would is simply just a survivor at that point.

You know let me correct you.

You're a hero because you were there.

Hostile soldiers to be heroic.

But I think you understand.

And in the feeling that you had -- -- didn't want people to think certain things happened it didn't so it wasn't that.

You were ashamed of your military career but just didn't want people to think of you differently than they were thinking of those that didn't make it through the night tell me about some of the people who didn't.

Get out that.

Well I -- unfortunately every -- I was in the humvee with me was killed that day I was the only survivor out of the five of us.

Adam so right there I knew that something had tragically happened.

I am I so wasn't for sure what really went down just because I was knocked -- conscience.

So at that aspect I was just.

I'm just so thankful that you know would be -- news.

To let me live.

And -- -- next thing you remembered after being knocked unconscious was what.

I was -- about their guests thing about three hours to three hours after the ambush happened.

I woke up and an Iraqi hospital.

And when I opened my -- for the first time I.

I looked up and all I could see was.

These -- Iraqi men staring down at me and at that point.

I was I was where I I was scared because I didn't know.

First off how I got there I didn't know what happens.

And I didn't know where the rest of my convoy and my comrades work.

I can imagine the terror.

Of of looking up you don't see anybody that you know -- -- my deceased people that -- are pretty sure hostile to yet.

And you gotta be hurt like crazy you -- -- lot -- talk talk about some of the injuries upholding those people know how severely you were injured.

He had.

I had -- -- laceration.

My back was -- and -- the fourth and fifth on bar.

-- birth my right humorous.

And then back caused need to go with de.

-- or.

And then.

They took out my left femur.

And we will get out days Barack keys removed my left -- like surgically removed it and they did replace -- with a 1940s rod.

Which was fit for her and me and so it definitely wasn't fit for my eighth tiny frame patent and and that my left tibia -- again.

And my right foot was completely crashed and smashed on.

I've had ever 21 surgeries just to repair everything.

And to get me to -- today.

Your body's been crushed you haven't talked to anybody did any of them speak English enough where the you can.

-- not enough that I can understand I could pick up one of certain.

When they stripped.

Broken English -- -- she could say.

And so I can understand a few little pieces that they would drop me but mostly it was -- bank and I was just.

-- left off in a corner by myself.

When you saw what happened and -- Ghazi and those families of the four Americans who were killed.

I know that you had a real concern for them because you wanted to make sure that their families got the right story -- -- -- so important to you.

Well because you know I went and 2007.

And -- in front of congress to make sure that the story was told correctly for the Tillman failing.

Pat Tillman the football player.

And I -- you know there's their family with that so many different fabricated stories that I wanted to -- it.

You know I was their first support I wasn't there to tell my story because I was fortunate enough to come back home.

And let people know now I wasn't -- -- though.

Warrior fighting on the streets of Barack that's that's what really happened and unfortunate -- and get -- come home.

And tell his story and but there's so many more soldiers that are just like fat.

Who are not fortunate enough to come home and -- their feelings are just being told whenever.

Cover up story that -- they can get.

Long term.

What are you gonna have to deal with as a result of what happens in Iraq -- -- I am pretty much everything I mean waking up in the morning I have to -- in a brace just -- that I can walk.

Because I'm still dealing with severe nerve damage that has affected where the back Pittsburgh.

-- sites so -- -- filling in the left -- so why I -- a -- -- -- just like walk.

The right but it still gives me a lot of problems just because of all the surgeries that they had to do to reconstruct it.

I'm still walking is very painful.

But you know I I don't within the past I -- but I think definitely later in life it's just one hit me.

You told your story and your book is called I am a soldier too and nobody would ever doubt that.

I know that one thing that has been a real blessing to you since you've come back.

-- of a five year old until now little girl her name is Dakota.

-- And I'm sure there's a party use -- -- as well.

Little girl you have no idea.

What a miracle you are as of the miracle that you are to be her mom.

-- we we're very fortunate to be able to carry her and just because of all of a nerve damage we work for sheriff that I would be it would have kids so.

Very much a blossoming bent and she is happy and healthy and doing great.

Well you're doing great and I want to thank you for being here and thank you for the candor of your story but Jessica tell anyone ever tell you.

That you're not a person of extraordinary courage and it wasn't just the courage to be willing to look at that horrible scene in that hospital for those days.

Not knowing what was gonna happen.

But the courage that you've had come back get yourself where you could walk again and to tell your story that's courage.

Allen all last stages of perseverance then and -- and I feel that is on the -- keep up that.

Never give out and give up attitude in and I keep that -- not worth it.

You know what I'm -- -- in fact you are gonna be okay and we thank.

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