Ex-POW recalls depression, guilt

Haunting demons of war -- 22 tense days as a wounded prisoner in Iraq -- still bother Shoshana Johnson.

[Fort Bliss mom]

I want to thank Shoshana Johnson for her service and wish her much success in all future endeavors. I'm looking forward to getting my signed copy of her book.

[whatever]

whatever you people don't know the real story of what happened that day and it will come out

[Welcome to the Jungle]

Everytime I see or hear about Shoshana Johnson I want to throw up, if anybody is faking and taking advantage of the lime light generated on her and the other hero from W.Virginia or where ever she is from and don't forget the other hero from Alamogordo. They should be ashamed, the real heros died in Iraq or lost limbs in that fateful ambush, we can thank our congressman and the government for creating or forging the stage in response to an other Viet Nam. The real story of what happened will indeed come out someday! To stand beside a real hero and accept honors that you know you do not deserve is a crime in itself.

[Art]

Welcome to the Jungle wrote:

Everytime I see or hear about Shoshana Johnson I want to throw up, if anybody is faking and taking advantage of the lime light generated on her and the other hero from W.Virginia or where ever she is from and don't forget the other hero from Alamogordo. They should be ashamed, the real heros died in Iraq or lost limbs in that fateful ambush, we can thank our congressman and the government for creating or forging the stage in response to an other Viet Nam. The real story of what happened will indeed come out someday! To stand beside a real hero and accept honors that you know you do not deserve is a crime in itself.

I remember reading about the wrong turn that convoy took, my thing is that who ever was in charge and with the GPS system and maps are the ones who should have been held accountable. As far as Ms. Johnson and the other two the news media has gone overboard with their accounts of the war. I do agree that not enough has been done for the real heros, "The Wounded Warriors", I have seen and read about the troops that left their legs alongside a dirt road in Iraq by a blast from 'IED's. As a Viet Nam Veteran I would be proud to sit with a group of men and drink a beer with men that sacrificed so much in a War so we can walk in Peace on our own two legs! To you Men, Thank You for your Service and I cannot even begain to say what you feel as I was never wounded or hit. Again Thank You.

[Rey]

Art, I wondered why the chain of command was never held accountable. These people should have been trained repeatedly BEFORE going to Iraq and if I remember correctly, the CO had problems reading the map.

The convoy should have be reconned first, MP checkpoints at the turns or risky areas and backup plans and WORKING radios-radios didnt work because of dead batteries.

Ms Johnson, thank you.

[Art]

Fort Bliss mom wrote:

I want to thank Shoshana Johnson for her service and wish her much success in all future endeavors. I'm looking forward to getting my signed copy of her book.

"Fort Bliss mom" your money would best be spent on our "wounded warriors", men who had their legs or arms and face blown off by an 'IED' the wifes and children of our real wounded heros struggling to make ends meet. To you young Brave Men I salute and Thank You for your sacrifice to our Nation.

[Ridiculous]

Reading about "Shana" makes me sick. She is no more a hero than any other Soldier who fought in Iraq. And being shot in the ankles while diving under a truck for cover certainly doesn't make you a hero. Everyone involved in that incident deserves recognition, as does every Soldier who goes to war for us. Jessica was rescued first, which gave the country hope, something we needed at that time, especially since no one knew whether or not she was alive. At least the other five were shown on TV and we had some idea that they were alive. Yes, the stories were exaggerated and some completely misconstrued, but isn't that what the media does? Shoshana's parents treated those who were trying to help and support them with complete disrespect and were horrible to everyone. It's understandable to be angry and worried about your child and they had every right to feel what they felt. But they were not the only people concerned for her safety and that of the other missing and wounded and for the families of those that were killed. And it really makes me ill that Shoshana thinks race had something to do with why she didn't get all the attention, when her family refused to deal with anyone who wasn't black. No Shoshana, it wasn't about race - it was about timing and circumstances. And if any of the five POWs deserve more recognition, it isn't you. It's the one who earned a silver star for his actions.

[Welcome to the Jungle]

Did Shana really think she wasn't getting all the attention? The Marines should have left her butt back in Iraq! Girl get a grip on life the party's over turn off the lights.

[Rachel]

Can see the sorry a** hateful losers are in full force. Ms. Johnson dedicates her book to her friends that were lost. She does not call herself a hero but of course you racist haters would never acknowledge that. You have no idea what she and the other 4 men went through. I doubt any of you losers could have survived what she did for 1 day much less 22 days while being wounded. If she was looking for attention funny how it took her 7 years later to release her side of the story. I know Ms. Johnson should continue what she is doing and hold your head high. Several members of her family have served in this military. I doubt any of you haters have. As a person w/ several member's of my family in the military and a brother who came back from Iraq in one piece any one who does not come back in a body should not feel "ashamed" because they survived and their friends and fellow soldiers did not. Keep doing what your doing Ms. Johnson the haters do not speak for the majority of true American citizens who appreciate your Volunteer service and are happy you are finally telling what is TRUE after 7 YEARS.

[DarkMan]

Rey wrote:

Art, I wondered why the chain of command was never held accountable. These people should have been trained repeatedly BEFORE going to Iraq and if I remember correctly, the CO had problems reading the map.
The convoy should have be reconned first, MP checkpoints at the turns or risky areas and backup plans and WORKING radios-radios didnt work because of dead batteries.
Ms Johnson, thank you.

this was the army enough said. What do you know anyway old f art.

[Rey]

I know that you are the leftover odor. Enough expelled.

[Welcome to the Jungle]

Rachel wrote:

Can see the sorry **** hateful losers are in full force. Ms. Johnson dedicates her book to her friends that were lost. She does not call herself a hero but of course you racist haters would never acknowledge that. You have no idea what she and the other 4 men went through. I doubt any of you losers could have survived what she did for 1 day much less 22 days while being wounded. If she was looking for attention funny how it took her 7 years later to release her side of the story. I know Ms. Johnson should continue what she is doing and hold your head high. Several members of her family have served in this military. I doubt any of you haters have. As a person w/ several member's of my family in the military and a brother who came back from Iraq in one piece any one who does not come back in a body should not feel "ashamed" because they survived and their friends and fellow soldiers did not. Keep doing what your doing Ms. Johnson the haters do not speak for the majority of true American citizens who appreciate your Volunteer service and are happy you are finally telling what is TRUE after 7 YEARS.

You are about as ignorant as Shana, what the hell would you know about War?

[The Beaver]

I cannot believe that she has the balls to write a book, what does this woman want? Everytime I see her as she was rescued by the the Marines all I see are those "Buck-Wheat" eyes. She makes me sick.

[dan]

most people don't give a shit about the military in reality. we're all ''we support our brave men and women in uniform'' bullshit and every night 200,000 veterans sleep on the street. most vets certainly don't get book deals or appear on magazine covers. the military really doesn't want disfigured or amputee veterans seen in public. most are shipped off to brooke army or walter reed and hidden from view. screw her and her book. and screw jessica lynch, who was not a hero but a whore who ropmed naked with her fellow troops. they released photos which larry flint had the decency not to publish and shosanna left the military becaue her fellow troops were ''jealous'' of her. many americans are getting a damn near deity-like worship of the military. they're just people like anyone else. some are good and some are bad. steven green and his compatriots raped a 14 year old iraqi girl and murdered her and her family. not exactly good people.

[Art]

dan wrote:

most people don't give a **** about the military in reality. we're all ''we support our brave men and women in uniform''**** and every night 200,000 veterans sleep on the street. most vets certainly don't get book deals or appear on magazine covers. the military really doesn't want disfigured or amputee veterans seen in public. most are shipped off to brooke army or walter reed and hidden from view. screw her and her book. and screw jessica lynch, who was not a hero but a **** who ropmed naked with her fellow troops. they released photos which larry flint had the decency not to publish and shosanna left the military becaue her fellow troops were ''jealous'' of her. many americans are getting a damn near deity-like worship of the military. they're just people like anyone else. some are good and some are bad. steven green and his compatriots raped a 14 year old iraqi girl and murdered her and her family. not exactly good people.

Thank you "dan" you are but a few of us that don't agree with the American public and U.S. governments version of a true American Hero. People don't realize about the homeless Veterans but yet they will blame the Veteran himself on the condition in which he lives. Shosanna can go to hell as far as I am concern, she sure don't look like she is suffering from PTSD, what a crock of bull she is pulling off. I have friends who still have that far away stare in their eyes from a real fire fight, ambush or incoming fire, about the only flash back she get's are from the dollar signs!

[Puppetmaster]

dan wrote:

most people don't give a shit about the military in reality. we're all ''we support our brave men and women in uniform'' bullshit and every night 200,000 veterans sleep on the street. most vets certainly don't get book deals or appear on magazine covers. the military really doesn't want disfigured or amputee veterans seen in public. most are shipped off to brooke army or walter reed and hidden from view. screw her and her book. and screw jessica lynch, who was not a hero but a whore who ropmed naked with her fellow troops. they released photos which larry flint had the decency not to publish and shosanna left the military becaue her fellow troops were ''jealous'' of her. many americans are getting a damn near deity-like worship of the military. they're just people like anyone else. some are good and some are bad. steven green and his compatriots raped a 14 year old iraqi girl and murdered her and her family. not exactly good people.

Speak for youself. You are not the voice of most people.

I reserve commment on this situation because I was not there. I am wondering how someone justified giving a Bronze Star to Jessica Lynch. Again, I was not there. I will admit I have been to war but did not make contact with the enemy similar to those that were in action that day and don't know how I would reacted. I trust my weapon would have been cleaned and I would at least fired back.

[Puppetmaster]

Art wrote:

<quoted text>Thank you "dan" you are but a few of us that don't agree with the American public and U.S. governments version of a true American Hero. People don't realize about the homeless Veterans but yet they will blame the Veteran himself on the condition in which he lives. Shosanna can go to hell as far as I am concern, she sure don't look like she is suffering from PTSD, what a crock of bull she is pulling off. I have friends who still have that far away stare in their eyes from a real fire fight, ambush or incoming fire, about the only flash back she get's are from the dollar signs!

The Clintons, Obama and Pelosi never went to war their pension do not even compare to those that have risked all and lost much.

[Art]

Puppetmaster wrote:

<quoted text>
The Clintons, Obama and Pelosi never went to war their pension do not even compare to those that have risked all and lost much.

"Puppetmaster" I don't think that they will ever begain to imagine how it feels to be in a combat zone, my post are for the real heros of all Wars not the one's writing books about their experience in the field. I for one am proud and thankful to the men who lost their legs or use of any limb, I cannot even begain to imagine how they feel about their loss and I honestly consider them true heros. On the other hand Shanana Johnson is reaping up all she can as far as public attention, as I said before she makes me want to throw up everytime I see or hear about her vivid imagination of what War is really about. Again my thanks to all Veterans for your duty.

[Puppetmaster]

Art wrote:

<quoted text> "Puppetmaster" I don't think that they will ever begain to imagine how it feels to be in a combat zone, my post are for the real heros of all Wars not the one's writing books about their experience in the field. I for one am proud and thankful to the men who lost their legs or use of any limb, I cannot even begain to imagine how they feel about their loss and I honestly consider them true heros. On the other hand Shanana Johnson is reaping up all she can as far as public attention, as I said before she makes me want to throw up everytime I see or hear about her vivid imagination of what War is really about. Again my thanks to all Veterans for your duty.

I do not consider her or Jessica Lynch a heriones by any means. They should give back the Bronze Stars that were given to them continue to collect thier pensions and move on with their lives.

[what it is]

Puppetmaster wrote:

<quoted text>
I do not consider her or Jessica Lynch a heriones by any means. They should give back the Bronze Stars that were given to them continue to collect thier pensions and move on with their lives.

I agree they should give back their Bronze Stars, to be among the elite of Men to have earned and be recognized with such honor they are not deserving.