Jay Rockefeller: “last night, an extraordinary event happened in Iraq: The extraction and rescue of PFC Jessica Lynch of West Virginia who…”

“last night, an extraordinary event happened in Iraq: The extraction and rescue of PFC Jessica Lynch of West Virginia who comes from the small town of Palestine in Wirt County with a population of about 5,800. She was in a hospital in Nasiriyah, with others, where she had been held captive. Through superb coordination of the Navy SEALs, Marines, and Army Rangers, U.S. forces went in, created diversions, rescued her, and brought her to safety. She is now on a C-17 on her way to Ramstein Air Force Base where she will receive treatment. She has many broken bones and other injuries, but none of them are life threatening. She was part of the Army's 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company and was moving with the 3rd Infantry Division north toward Baghdad. It was that classic case where the group made a right turn instead of going straight ahead, and they were captured. Not all of her fellow soldiers were so lucky, but she is known to be in very good spirits. I have seen pictures of her, as I think we all have, and I have spoken with her parents to express my thoughts of her being rescued. I have to say that in a time of great stress, worry, and loss in this country, there do come high points and this is one of them. This private is 19 years old. She wants to be a teacher. She was rescued by people who showed the most extraordinary skill and heroism. What is interesting is her desire to be a teacher.…”