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:
