The story of PFC Jessica Lynch and her rescue from the Iraqis has impressed us as a wonderful story. But, in light of more recent reports, is it? The Jessica Lynch story appears to be an ordinarily spectacular event hyped by the media into a patriotic myth encouraged by armed forces PR, but nonetheless honorable and acceptably accurate.

My first moment skepticism came with the media report that Lynch had been wounded in the ambush but kept firing until her weapon was empty. It sounded to me more like a presumption made upon what she should have done if she had the opportunity, a presumption I would share.

The composition of the rescue force mildly disgusted me, mixed as it was between Army rangers, Navy SEALS, and Marines. I immediately recognized this as typical intra-service political accommodation to give everyone a piece of the action. Obviously CENTCOM intended to make some PR hay while the night vision devices shined through the darkness. Fair enough. This wouldn't have been done if there were any risk.

The initial report stated that when a soldier identified himself to Lynch, she replied, "I'm an American soldier, too." My first reaction: Wonderful! She is and I'm glad she knew it even as helpless as she was. She had done her job and owed no one an apology. My second thought, however, was that this is almost too good to be true. Mind you, I do not because I cannot doubt she said exactly this. What we have subsequently learned of her character suggests she exhibits this spirit.

However. After the American forces had freed the hospital personnel from control and retaliation by Iraqi militia, they talked with BBC reporters on May 16th and gave a substantially different story. Yes, Lynch had been held prisoner -- but they took loving care of her. Yes, the special ops task force had landed during the night and taken her away -- but the militia had already left and, moreover, they themselves had been trying to return her to American hands. Robert Scheer of the Los Angeles Times editorialized on this a week later. He called the story "liar, liar, pants on fire…deceitful propaganda…premeditated manufacture of the rescue…artfully edited by the Pentagon…as proof that a battle to free Lynch had occurred when it had not. This fabrication…fictitious…merely one in a series of egregious lies marketed…"

It now appears Lynch never had the opportunity to return fire because she was injured when an explosion overturned her vehicle. Previous observation of Iraqi military operations in the "hospital" -- also used as a tactical operations center

-- and the discovery of American graves confirm the danger. The rescue force went in with the necessary assumption of maximum resistance and did exactly what it had to do and the mission was a total success. It now also appears the Iraqi soldiers had recently left and that the level of assault used turns out to have been more than was actually needed is beside the point.

Strange how eager BBC was to believe Iraqis with their self-serving, post-facto pleading. They had learned bold-faced lies well from their national information minister and lack credibility. Although many major newspapers dutifully carried Scheer's opportunistic tirade, most have discounted it as such.

Jessica Lynch is a magnificent young woman who simply did her job. The rescue force acted courageously and successfully. Of course the military capitalized on the event to encourage those still risking their lives, and it brought a surge of national pride to us all -- except the cynics. That it now seems to have been hyped out of measure is the fault of the media, some of whom are now trying to turn it around.

The rescue of Jessica Lynch has earned its proud place in American lore.

Dr. Wallace Alcorn’s commentaries appear in the Herald on Mondays