The rescue of Private Jessica Lynch by US special forces from an Iraqi hospital lifted American morale during one of the most difficult periods of the war.
Since the rescue, which was presented as a daring military raid, doubt has been cast on the Pentagon's version of events and questions have been raised as to whether Lynch was in any danger.
However, this has not dampened efforts by US media groups to win the rights to the Private Jessica Lynch story.
It is not just an interview that the media networks are chasing -- it is a whole media package that could run to a series of programmes, a movie deal and a book.
While stations like NBC and ABC News have sent Private Lynch, now 20, gifts of books and jewellery, CBS News has gone a step further making a combined offer with Viacom sister companies.
According to the New York Times, in its letters to Private Lynch's family CBS News put in a bid for a two-hour documentary and a host of other projects, which would be created by various Viacom companies including MTV and publisher Simon & Schuster.
In a letter to military representatives of Private Lynch, Betsy West, a CBS News senior vice-president, wrote: "Attached you will find the outlines of a proposal that includes ideas from CBS News, CBS Entertainment, MTV Networks and Simon & Schuster publishers. From the distinguished reporting of CBS News to the youthful reach of MTV, we believe this is a unique combination of projects that will do justice to Jessica's inspiring story."
The letter went on to outline how movie division CBS Entertainment "specialises in inspirational stories of courage". It said that Simon & Schuster was "extremely interested in discussing the possibilities for a book based on Jessica's journey from Palestine, West Virginia, to deep inside Iraq".
According to the NY Times, MTV was offering the chance for Private Lynch and her friends "to be the co-hosts of an hour-long show on MTV2", and even spoke of a special edition of its hit programme 'Total Request Live' in her honour.
The proposal has reawaken debate in the US about the blurring of entertainment and news, particularly when such an offer of movie and book deals is being proffered by the news division, raising questions of editorial independence and impartiality.
According to the paper, Private Lynch is not the only person to be offered such a deal. CBS's '60 Minutes' offered to help hiker Aron Ralston, who had to cut off his boulder-trapped arm to survive in the wilderness, contact other Viacom divisions.
In response to allegations of impartiality, CBS News told the NY Times that there was nothing untoward in the way that it approached Private Lynch or Ralston.
According to West: "We were led to believe that because of the media barrage of the Lynch family, it would be helpful to consolidate the various Viacom projects, including the CBS News proposal. We made it crystal clear that they were separate projects in no way linked."
"We make no secret of the fact that we're part of Viacom," West said. "But the reputation of CBS News for fairness and independence is without question."
CBS News went on to tell the NY Times that the letter it had sent highlighted the range of entertainment possibilities on offer because a lawyer and a spokesman for the family had inquired about them.
However, this has been denied by the man in question, Paul Poister, who said: "During the time when I was helping field media interview requests, part of that role that I voluntarily played was not soliciting or trying to set up any kind of book or movie arrangements."
The paper said that the Lynch family was expected to sign with an agent to represent them soon.
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