Nation briefs 1/29/06

Army decorates Jessica Lynch's rescuers

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- The Army unit that helped rescue prisoner of war Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi hospital during a nighttime raid has been given an award for valor. The 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, based in Savannah, received the Valorous Unit Award during a ceremony Friday. It is the Army's third-highest unit citation. A convoy from Lynch's company took a wrong turn and was attacked in Nasiriyah in March 2003. Eleven U.S. soldiers were killed and six captured, including Lynch. She suffered spinal fractures, nerve damage and a shattered right arm, right foot and left leg when her Humvee crashed. The Rangers helped rescue her and dug up the bodies of eight soldiers who had been killed in fighting with her unit, the 507th Maintenance Company.

Ridges of sea ice plunge onto road in Alaskan town

BARROW, Alaska -- Ridges of sea ice packing car-sized chunks of the cold stuff slammed onto a road in this northern Alaskan town in quantities not seen in nearly three decades. Two ice surges, known to Alaska Natives as ivus, stunned residents who had never seen such large blocks of ice rammed ashore. Ivus are like frozen tsunamis and crash ashore violently. They have killed hunters and are among the Arctic's most feared natural phenomena.

NY officer critical after fellow cop shoots him

NEW YORK -- In a tragic case of mistaken identity, police shot and critically wounded an off-duty officer as he pointed a gun at a suspect outside a fast food restaurant early Saturday, authorities said. Eric Hernandez, 24, was hit three times and was hospitalized in extremely critical condition, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. The officer who pulled the trigger, identified only as a 20-year veteran of the force, was being treated for trauma at another hospital. It was believed to be the NYPD's first friendly fire shooting since Desmond Robinson, who wasn't in uniform, was shot in the back by an off-duty officer in 1994. Robinson had his gun drawn on a subway platform, and the officer mistook him for a criminal.

-- From wire reports