Michael Lynch
Specialist Five
HHC, 1ST BN, 5TH INFANTRY, 25TH INF DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Amsterdam, New York
September 28, 1948 to March 15, 1969
MICHAEL LYNCH is on the Wall at Panel W29, Line 46

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Michael Lynch
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According to a January 5, 2013 article in the Schenectady New York Daily Gazette, Michael was bending down to tend to one of the wounded soldiers when he was killed by small arms fire. Lynch had been attending college when he enlisted in the Army. He was orignally assigned to Germany but volunteered for assignment to Vietnam. He came home for Christmas 1968 and then left for Vietnam, saying farewell to his mother, Caroline Sampone Lynch, and younger brother Nicholas, 16, then living in Hagaman. He began his tour in Vietnam on January 12, 1969.

Michael was intense and idealistic according to the family. His father Robert Lynch was living in California during the time Michael was in high school so Michael shouldered more responsibility for the family. He was interested in drama in High School and enrolled in State University of New York (SUNY) at New Palz NY. He left school to serve his country which he believed to be the right thing to do.

One of those who also performed with Michael in High School said that he set a good example, both on-stage and off, by simply trying to do the right thing. His brother Nicholas said Michael worried about the world and was a wonderful person who put his heart into acting and all that he did.

Bert DeRose, Michael's high school drama teacher, has proposed that the newly renovated theater at what is now Lynch (no relation to Michael) middle school in Amsterdam New York be named for Michael Lynch.

On March 15,1969, at 7 minutes after midnight, Company C departed their night lager to a link up site. At 0031 hours, Company C was near grid XT 601240 and moving east. At 0118 hours, Company C had moved to near XT 607240 (approximately 600 meters). They reported hearing movement to their front and received one round of Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire. A few minutes later, a helicopter light fire team was requested and Company C reported that it now had 2 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) hit. In another 10 minutes, Company C reported that they were receiving fire from the front and on both flanks. They reported wounded and one killed on the two lead APCs and that the column was backing out of the contact.

Company B began closing on the Company C contact area to provide support. Shortly before 2 a.m., Company C requested a Dust-off (medevac helicopter) to stand-by until they could secure a Landing Zone (LZ). At 0228 hours, Company C sent a dismounted patrol to pick up any personnel from the lead APCs. Star Cluster illumination had been fired from the APCs.

At 0252 hours, the first Dust-off was complete for 8 wounded Bobcats. Thirty minutes later, the 2nd Dust-off was completed for 9 wounded and one dead Bobcat. Company C reported that they were no longer receiving enemy fire. At 0402 hours, the dismounted patrol reached the two downed APCs but found no one alive.

At 0701 hours, Company C moved through the area of contact. Nineteen men were wounded and five (5) Bobcats were killed in the contact. They were:

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