Michael Henry Lynch

Specialist Four
D TRP, 1ST SQD, 11 ARM CAV RGT
Army Of The United States
21 June 1944 - 14 May 1968
Louisville, KY
Panel 60E Line 014

11 ARM CAV RGT Armor

Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Michael Henry Lynch

Mike, you were 13 years old and I was 10. Everyone knows that 13 year olds don't mess with 10 year olds -- everyone except you, my friend. You were already a star baseball pitcher and I was a lonely kid trying to be accepted into the group as a baseball player. You were the kindest kid I ever met in my life. You took me under your wing, showed me the ropes, and made me feel a part of the group. In a pickup game, you were pitching and I came to the plate. You were so good that most kids could not get a hit off you, least of all me -- a beginner. You could have struck me out with three pitches. Instead, you intentionally laid one right down the middle. I, scared to death, swung and hit a line drive over the right fielder's head (who had moved in on me). From that day forward, I was accepted as a baseball player within that group and many more to come. If you had struck me out, who knows, I may have walked home in defeat and given up the game.

Mike, I was never able to tell you that your simple act of kindness changed my life forever. I have told this story over and over to anyone who would listen. I also tried to mimick your kindness by helping others struggling for acceptance in athletics and elsewhere.

My friend, I can only imagine the other lives you touched in your short 23 years and my best guess is that your death in Vietnam helped other soldiers live out their lives.

I look forward to playing ball with you again in the next life. This time I will pitch.



Jerry Huber



A memorial initiated by a boyhood friend,
Jerry Huber
Winkgink@AOL.com 
26 May 2002



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 08/10/2009