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American Hero By Melissa J Wantuck  |
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 In 2003, at the beginning of the war with Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, many will easily recall the story of soldier Jessica Lynch who was part of a military supply convoy that was ambushed by Iraqis after it made a wrong turn. During the firefight, Lynch was injured then captured by the enemy. In a military rescue she was recovered by her fellow servicemen from the hospital where she was being treated for her serious injuries. Nationwide publicity followed and then, after her return home, a book detailing her experience. Serving with her in the same company, the 507th Maintenance Company, was Edgar Hernandez. Like Lynch, he was injured in the ambush and taken prisoner by the enemy.
Hernandez’s 21-day ordeal as a Prisoner of War is now released in its own book form, Edgar Hernandez POW: An American Hero by Jose Martinez and Megan Rellahan. Along with four other members of his company, the men were beaten and shackled by their captors, paraded as trophies of war to Iraqi citizens, then threatened with their lives.
An American Hero is a harrowing account of a prisoner of war’s experience. Hernandez and his fellow soldiers were told repeatedly they would die, that their army was being defeated, and their country was renouncing them. Day after day, the POWs listened to gun battles outside the numerous prisons they were held in, and American planes flying overhead dropping bombs nearby.
Hernandez faced mind torturing fear and depression while in the hands of the Iraqis until two more American POWs joined the rest of the prisoners. Both were pilots and one, Chief Warrant Officer David Williams, had POW training. He became the leader for the POWs and rallied their spirits, getting them through the rest of their time in enemy hands until their rescue.
Hernandez’s story is one of courage in the face of death, the heroism of those who sacrifice for our country, and an unbending will to persevere. At the same time Hernandez shares his experience, he demonstrates the purpose of the war he was a part of: freedom. Not only his as a POW, but of the Iraqi people. Hernandez shares the reality that the lives of his fellow POWs and him were saved by numerous Iraqis. Some were doctors; others were members of the Iraqi military. They secretly told the POWs they were tired of war, which their country had been fighting in one against Iran for over two decades. They wanted peace and most importantly, they wanted to be free like the Americans. When these Iraqis were offered sanctuary by the Marines who rescued the POWs, they declined. They wanted to stay and help their country find freedom even though their acknowledgement to the POWs if known to their government would bring death to them and their families.
The presentation of Hernandez’s story by authors Martinez and Rellahan is poorly done and reads almost like a movie script (style, not content). This is no surprise as both writers work on Hollywood movies. The experience of the POWs, fortunately, is not lost and Hernandez’s message shines through.
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