first woman soldier lost in war

[MORTARDUDE]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003132548,00.html


By WILL BARKER

A PRETTY 19-year-old country girl who joined the US Army to escape unemployment was feared to be the first woman soldier to die yesterday.

Blonde Jessica Lynch was among 12 soldiers in a US supply convoy ambushed by Iraqi troops.

Her parents were left weeping like others in America and
Britain as more Coalition victims of the war were identified.

Supply clerk Jessica was feared dead after five survivors from the ambush were paraded before Iraqi TV cameras in sickening footage beamed around the world on Sunday.

Also shown were the bodies of the other seven members of the 507th Maintenance Co convoy, but Jessica?s parents could not identify her among them.

Her father Greg Lynch said: ?The only thing they can tell us is she?s missing.

?I just want them to bring her back safely ? her and all the rest of the kids.?

Private Jessica ? known as Jessie ? only joined up because she could not find a job in her farming community home town of Palestine, West Virginia.

Lorene Cumbridge, a 62-year-old cousin, said: ?She?s just a West Virginia country girl. Warm-hearted. Outgoing. I really thought growing up she would become an elementary school teacher.



Missing ... supply clerk Jessica


But for West Virginia children in some of the more rural areas, the military is the one good chance of getting an education and making something of themselves.?

Lack of jobs and the military service of her older brother,
Gregory Lynch Jr., led Jessica into the Army, her father said.

She signed up before graduating from Wirt County High School in Elizabeth, where she played basketball and softball.

Greg said: ?The Army offered a good deal.? Jessica?s brother is stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Locals have been supporting Greg, Jessica?s mother Deidre, and her 17-year-old sister, Brandi Renee.

A yellow ribbon was tied to a tree near the family?s mailbox and two others were attached to posts on the front porch.