<!-- PRINT_CONTENT_START --> AM - Wednesday, 25 April , 2007 08:11:00 Reporter: Michael Rowland TONY EASTLEY: As Australia remembers the battlefield heroics of our diggers, the US Military is under renewed fire for making up the exploits of some of its soldiers.
A congressional committee has opened an inquiry into why the military exaggerated the stories of two high-profile soldiers - Army Private Jessica Lynch and football star turned Army Ranger, Pat Tillman.
Washington Correspondent Michael Rowland reports.
MICHAEL ROWLAND: It was one of the most gripping stories of the early days of the Iraq war - the dramatic rescue of US Army Private Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi hospital.
US ARMY SOLDIER: You're doing great, Jessica. You're doing wonderful, okay?
US ARMY SOLDIER 2: Welcome back.
MICHAEL ROWLAND: Lynch had been wounded when her convoy was ambushed and tales of her heroism on that day spread like wildfire through the US media.
REPORTER: As hard as nails, that's what they're saying about Private First Class Jessica Lynch.
REPORTER 2: She shot until she ran out of ammunition.
MICHAEL ROWLAND: Jessica Lynch has now told a congressional committee she wasn't exactly that fearless.
JESSICA LYNCH: And my parents' home in Wirt County, West Virginia, it was under siege by media, all repeating the story of the little girl Rambo from the hills of West Virginia who went down fighting. It was not true.
MICHAEL ROWLAND: In fact, Jessica Lynch says her weapon jammed, and she put her head down and prayed.
Ms Lynch was one of the star witnesses today at a congressional hearing into how often the US Military has manufactured events on the battlefield to help boost public support for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jessica Lynch says if the stories about her did help inspire the troops and rally the nation, then perhaps there was some good, but she can't understand just why the Pentagon decided to tell blatant lies about her exploits.
JESSICA LYNCH: The truth of war is not always easy. The truth is always more heroic than the hype. | 
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