Maybe,” Rys says, giving his arm a jerk, “with this, you’ll start to things a little more clearly. - Jessica Lynch

The nurses at the hospital tried to soothe me, and they even tried unsuccessfully at one point to return me to Americans.

I have repeatedly said, when asked, that if the stories about me helped inspired our troops and rally a nation, then perhaps there was some good. However, I am still confused as to why they chose to lie and try to make me a legend, when the real heroics — of my fellow soldiers that day — were legendary.

I had the good fortune and opportunity to come home and to tell the truth; many soldiers, like Pat Tillman… did not have that opportunity. The truth of war is not always easy. The truth is always more heroic than the hype.