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American Heroes: Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman as Casualties in the Public Relations Campaign for the "War on Terror"
Hays, Hannah
Hays, Hannah
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2021
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2021-05-19
Abstract
In 2001, after the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, the United States entered into a military campaign known as the "War on Terror." At home, the war was characterized by an emphasis on individual stories and emotional pull to garner patriotism, hope, and support. Public knowledge of the war centered on tales of heroic individuals who became the face of the war effort. Two of the most prominent patriotic narratives were those of Pat Tillman, a former National Football League player who left the sport to enlist in the wake of September 11th, and Jessica Lynch, a soldier who was captured by the Iraqi military and rescued by U.S. Special Forces. The Bush administration and the media contributed to the manipulation and dramatization of both stories in a way that falsified real events in favor of creating patriotic narratives. Though Tillman and Lynch's stories and the aftermath of their public portrayals differ significantly, both give insight into the role of the American hero in the way the public understands military conflict.
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History