Jessica Lynch has a baby girl

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. – Former POW Jessica Lynch became a mother on Friday, giving birth to a girl whom she named in honor of a fallen comrade.

Dakota Ann Robinson was delivered by Caesarean section at a local hospital.

Lynch and her boyfriend, Wes Robinson, named Dakota in honor of Lynch’s friend, Army Spc. Lori Piestewa, who was the first woman to be killed in combat in Iraq. Piestewa’s middle name was Ann, and Dakota means friendship or ally, said Lynch’s publicist, Aly Goodwin Gregg.

Lynch and Piestewa served together in the 507th Maintenance Company from Fort Bliss, Texas. They were roommates there and tentmates in Iraq. Piestewa died and Lynch was captured when their unit was ambushed on March 23, 2003, near Nasiriyah.

Lynch, 23, is now a sophomore at West Virginia University-Parkersburg. Gregg said she probably will take a semester off or take online courses.