''Saving Jessica Lynch'' is a 2003 American television film that aired on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

and featured Canadian actress Laura Regan in the title role. The film begins with the ambush of

Jessica Lynch Jessica Dawn Lynch (born April 26, 1983) is an American teacher, actress, and former United States Army soldier who served in the 2003 invasion of Iraq as a private first class. On March 23, 2003, she was serving as a unit supply specialist ...

's convoy in the middle of an Iraqi city and follows a version of events that credits an Iraqi citizen, Mohammed Odeh al-Rehaief, with being responsible for helping to arrange a daring rescue by US special operations forces.

Cast

Michael Rooker Michael Rooker (born April 6, 1955) is an American actor known for his roles as Henry in '' Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer'' (1986), Chick Gandil in ''Eight Men Out'' (1988), Frank Baily in '' Mississippi Burning'' (1988), Terry Cruger in '' ...

as Colonel Curry, who helps plan the rescue mission * Nicholas Guilak as Mohammed Al-Rehaief * Laura Regan as Private First Class Jessica Lynch * Brent Sexton as Greg Lynch Sr., Jessica's father *

Mark Moses Mark W. Moses (born February 24, 1958) is an American actor, best known for his roles as Paul Young in the ABC comedy-drama ''Desperate Housewives'' (2004–2011) and as Herman "Duck" Phillips in the AMC period drama ''Mad Men'' (2007–2014). ...

as a Lieutenant * Benjamin King as 1st Sergeant Robert J. Dowdy *

Crystle Lightning Crystle Lea Lightning (born February 5, 1981) is a Canadian-American film actress, musician, DJ, and hip-hop MC. Early life Lightning holds dual citizenship with the United States and Canada. She is the daughter of director and actress Georgina ...

as PFC

Lori Piestewa Lori Ann Piestewa ( ; December 14, 1979 – March 23, 2003) was a United States Army soldier killed during the Iraq War. A member of the Quartermaster Corps, she died in the same Iraqi attack in which fellow soldiers Shoshana Johnson and Piestewa' ...

* Susan Pari as Iman Al-Rehaief * Denise Lee as Specialist

Shoshana Johnson Shoshana Nyree Johnson (born January 18, 1973) is a Panamanian-born former United States soldier, and the first black female prisoner of war in the military history of the United States. Johnson was a Specialist of the U.S. Army 507th Mainten ...

* Brent Anderson as Capt. Troy King * Amy Jones as Dee Lynch * Ethan Rains as Iman Nazemzadeh (Iraqi Deserter) * Rafael Tamayo as Specialist Edgar Hernandez * Dak Rasheta as Sergeant James Riley (as Dak Rashetta) * Reed Frerichs as Pvt. Dale Nace * Oliver Tull as Sgt George Buggs * Josh Berry as Specialist Edward Anguiano *

Donny Boaz Donny Boaz (born December 12, 1980) is an American actor who recently portrayed the role of Chance Chancellor on ''The Young and the Restless''. Career Boaz began his career as a male model for brands such as Abercrombie, Mothers Against D ...

Patrick Miller (soldier) Patrick Wayne Miller (born January 15, 1980) is a United States Army soldier. He was a private first class during the 2003 invasion of Iraq with the U.S. Army's 507th Maintenance Company, serving as a mechanic, becoming a POW. For his actions le ...

Inaccuracies

Although the film was based on a true story, most of the circumstances of the rescue have been challenged by the media as well as by Lynch herself. Lynch was portrayed as a heroic soldier who fought up to her capture. In reality, at the time of the crash of her vehicle, she was knocked unconscious and woke up at the hospital with serious injuries. Her rescue operation was carried out at an unresisting civilian hospital. In a review of the movie, Hal Erickson wrote, "An inordinate amount of poetic license is taken with the events surrounding Jessica's rescue, with a plethora of ridiculous coincidences and serial-like thrills and chills thrown in to pep up the story."

Notes

External links

* 2003 television films 2003 films Films set in Iraq NBC network original films Iraq War in television War films based on actual events Films about the United States Army Films scored by Ramin Djawadi Films with screenplays by John Fasano Films directed by Peter Markle 2000s English-language films {{US-tv-film-stub