I Am a Soldier, Too

The Jessica Lynch Story

By: Rick Bragg

Narrated by: Rick Bragg

On March 23, 2003, Private First Class Jessica Lynch was crossing the Iraqi desert with the 507th Maintenance Company when the convoy she was traveling in was ambushed, caught in enemy crossfire. All four soldiers traveling with her died in the attack. Lynch, perhaps the most famous P.O.W. this country has ever known, was taken prisoner and held captive in an Iraqi hospital for nine days. Her rescue galvanized the nation; she became a symbol of victory, of innocence and courage, of heroism; and then, just as quickly, of deceit and manipulation. What never changed, as the nation veered wildly between these extremes of mythmaking, was her story, the events and the experiences of a nineteen-year-old girl caught up in what was and will remain the battle of her life: what she saw, what she felt, what she experienced, what she survived.

I Am a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story is the story this country has hungered for, as told by Lynch herself to Pulitzer Prize–winning author Rick Bragg. In it, she tells what really happened in the ambush; what really happened in the hospital; what really happened, from her perspective, on the night of the rescue. More than this, the collaboration between Lynch and Bragg captures who she is and where she’s from: her childhood in Palestine, West Virginia, a lovely, rugged stretch of land always referred to as the hollow, where she rode horses, played softball, and was crowned Miss Congeniality at the Wirt County Fair the same year the steer she raised took a ribbon. It reveals her relationships with her older brother, Greg Jr., also an enlisted soldier, and her younger sister, Brandi; with her father, Greg Sr., a forty-three-year-old truck driver who has at times worked construction, cut hay, cut firewood, hauled timber, hauled concrete, run a bulldozer, run a backhoe, cleaned houses, and dug graves; and with her mother, Deadra, a city girl from Parkersburg who moved to the hollow and met her future husband when he was eleven and she was nine. And it describes what happened to the Lynch family in the agony of Jessica’s capture and captivity; the terror and disbelief that cascaded through an entire town at the news of her disappearance into enemy hands; the joy of her rescue; and the long work of healing and recovery that lie ahead. Jessica Lynch has won the hearts and minds of Americans. In the hands of Rick Bragg, a renowned chronicler of American lives, her tale is told at last, with grace, and care, and astonishing candor.

©2003 Jessica Lynch (P)2003 Random House, Inc., Random House Audio, A Division Of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Finely wrought. . . . A vivid portrait of a young woman who fled the familiar and fell into a situation beyond her control.” —New York Daily News

“Deftly, respectfully, movingly, Bragg has written Lynch’s story with extraordinary power. Brave, convincing and wonderfully sweet.” --The Baltimore Sun

“Bragg . . . gives a cinematic account of the desperate firefight that mortally wounded Lynch’s Army buddy, Lori Piestewa, and 10 others. . . . Lynch’s painful recovery . . . is vividly described.” --The Philadelphia Inquirer

American hero

Loved to hear the truth about it all and to put the rumors to shame. Jessica Lynch is an American hero and should be honored as such.

True heroism even if she doesn't think so...

Regardless of whether she thinks she is a hero or not, the ability to survive such brutality and terror , not to mention the physical pain for the remainder of her life is truly heroic. I am in awe.

Genuine

The devotion and dedication of our American soldiers brings humble gratitude to those of us who reap the benefit of their service.

Hearing the book read by Rick Bragg, the author, brought beautiful honesty and sensitivity to the story.

Janet Angell

Overrated story and a lackluster account ...

Not as compelling, nor engrossing as Shoshana Johnson's, "I'm Still Standing". In my opinion, Rick Bragg's account is a "run of the mill" take of the "All American hero". I purchased this book thinking that I would get more perspective on the events that occurred. I didn't get it...I see why others say Jessica Lynch's story was hyped up...

Great portrayal

Thank you for her story in way families can share and inspire you people.
Hopefully a follow up book will come as she adjusts to her new life

Sad story

It’s almost as if many reviewers didn’t even read the book, blaming her for what happened? It’s a sad story and I hope she’s doing well.

Couldn't put it down

I couldn't stop listening to it. I had to bring it in to work to finish it. Very uplifting knowing all she had to put up with. It's good to know that there are still good strong people around like Jessica, her family, and community. The writing brought this out perfectly.

Good narrator. The voice and accent were right on for this story.

Well done

I was with 3/75 outside when this took place. I was a digger. Well done.

Always wondered about the real story!

It's short enough to hear in an afternoon. I saw this when it happened but the media makes up so many different stories. I loved to hear the real behind happenings and thoughts of Jessica. While parts are frightening and very sad. This is life's journey for Jessica.

this audiobook just couldn't hold my attention

there was no energy to the audio. Jessica Lynch didn't speak at all it was just someone that talked about her. the speaker was just too monotone. It just wasn't very interesting don't recommend it