Honor And Truth
This column was written by CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.
I remember it like it was yesterday. A story in the Washington Post about the battlefield exploits of Jessica Lynch. Her transport unit had been ambushed in Nasiriyah at the beginning of the war in Iraq.
The unit had taken serious casualties, but young Lynch, a truck driver, had survived. There in the paper that day was the story of her heroism — continuing to fire her weapon after being hit.
Of course we know now she was never hit. And she never fired a shot. Yes, that was Jessica Lynch Monday in the same hearing room as Pat Tillman's family, telling their stories and wondering why the U.S. military flat out lied about what happened to them.
Jessica told me this morning she was proud to support the Tillmans, who believe they have not yet been told what really happened to the young man who gave up a career in the NFL to serve as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan.
Their testimony was chilling, and a reminder that one of the first casualties of war is truth.
Harry's daily commentary can be heard on many CBS Radio News affiliates across the country.
By Harry Smith