Released American PoWs fly home
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Seven former American prisoners of war released from an Iraqi jail flew home last night from a US air base in Germany.
The seven – five soldiers from a maintenance unit, including a woman, and two Apache helicopter pilots – were rescued by US forces north of Baghdad last weekend.
Three of the soldiers with the maintenance unit suffered gunshot wounds when they were ambushed after their convoy took a wrong turn, including 30-year-old Shoshana Johnson, who was shot in both ankles.
Pictures of the bruised and scared PoWs were beamed around the world by Arab television shortly after their capture near Nasiriyah on 23 March. The soldiers, who were debriefed in Germany, described being kicked and beaten by their captors. They were stripped of their uniforms and slept on concrete floors.
Another member of their group captured at the same time, Private Jessica Lynch, 19, has already returned to the US following her dramatic rescue from a hospital in Nasiriyah on 2 April. She had both legs and an arm broken.
Ms Johnson was carried on to the C-17 transport plane on a stretcher yesterday, raising her hand in a victory sign, to cheers from well-wishers at the Ramstein base. The two Apache pilots were captured on 23 March when their helicopter came down in Karbala, south of Baghdad.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments