SakshiThe Battle Ensues
Iraqis force used rocket-propelled grenade to destroy the Humvee. That made convoy turn towards tractor trailer. The battle ensued for 90 minutes with the assailants firing and the convoy primarily protecting itself. Lastly, the convoy got split into three group in order to get out of this trouble. This idea seemed to work as the first two group made out of the carnage safely with the second group enduring severe vehicle damage. Unfortunately, the third group could not succeed in getting out. The third group had the biggest and for most of the member, the last defeat as most of them got killed in this battle. Sadly it was the same group in which Jessica was. About 11 American soldiers got martyred in this unfateful fight. But the only good thing about it was that Jessica managed to survive the attack. Though she had managed to survive the attack it was to see would she be able to survive the heinous condition coming her way. And what was she going to have now?
M.I.A.
She would have never felt as helpless as she did that day. Though Jessica managed to escape the death, she could not escape the pain she was undergoing due to her heavily injured body. She needed medical attention as soon as possible. She had broken her back and had also injured her head. She was declared M.I.A (missing in action.) by the government for she had gone missing while facing an ambush. She was not the only who got officially listed as M.I.A. Her best friend Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa who was driving the Humvee had also got lost and was considered M.I.A. So along with her, there were four more soldiers who had been listed M.I.A by the dispensation. As far as Jessica’s current state was considered than the soldier had turned into a prisoner of war. Now her physical pain seemed nothing in front of her. What do you think was going to happen with Jessica. Something very terrifying, right? Well, we all know the kind of treatment the prisoners of war are given.
Captured
Jessica was taken to the Saddam Hospital in Nasiriya. During the time of war, the medical center was turned into a military base. Luckily despite grave injuries, Jessica convalesced soonly but her friend Lori succumbed to wounds and died. Moreover, the Iraqi Army recorded the abysmal condition of prisoners and transmitted it worldwide for everyone to see. The heart shaking video had documented the torture these prisoners were going through. Even though Jessica was alive but her condition was no good than a dead person. The prisoners were tormented mentally and physically. If there was any hell on the earth then for the prisoners it was that hell. For how long was she going to put up with this torture or will she too eventually give up and embrace death or something really unexpected was awaiting her in the future.
An Unexpected Ally
Contrary to the claims made by the doctors and staff of Saddam Hospital who asserted that they protected Jessica by giving her good medical treatment during the war, the female soldier had been living in a horrifying condition. Mohammed Odeh al Rehaief, a lawyer by profession brought these disturbing facts to the light. He shared his unbelievable experience of the hospital where he saw inhumanity reaching its height. He could not believe his eyes when he saw an authority hitting Jessica on her face. He revealed “My heart stopped. I knew then I must help her be saved.” It is amazing to see that at the place where it seemed humanity had died there was someone who had a heart that sympathized with those helpless prisoners. The lawyer had been so moved by her condition that he decided to do something for her though he knew it could risk his own life.
Conflicting Reports
Whereas Jessica was kept captive inside the medical center, outside there were a number of contradictory reports doing the rounds about her. These varying reports were actually fanning confusion. For instance, there was a report stating that Rehaief’s wife was working as a nurse in that hospital but the staff of the same hospital claimed that though Rehaief had visited the hospital, his wife had no connection with the medical center. Doctors maintained that Jessica was given adequate medical treatment and was protected from the Iraqi military. Jessica too did not refute their claim. In fact, she stated that during her stint in the hospital she was treated very nicely and there was also a nurse who comforted her by singing songs.
To The Rescue
Putting his life at stake,Rehaief informed the American Army about the whereabouts of Jessica. After getting the location of Jessica the US Army constituted a special force to rescue her. The special force got into the hospital and took Jessica with them. After rescuing her, they sent her to Ramstein Air Base of Germany. On seeing her terrible condition the paramedics swiftly swung into action and tended to her injury. From there she was transported to recovery facility at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in the proximity of Washington DC. You might be thinking that with her rescue all her struggles came to an end but in reality, it was far from the end. Her struggle had just started and she had to face the toughest villain of her life that was going to challenge her in her own soil.