The Heroic Radioman
Allen James Lynch
Medal of Honor Recipient
At the risk of his life, Sergeant Lynch dashed 50 meters of open ground through a withering hail of enemy fire to administer aid to three fallen soldiers of Company D. Throughout the fire fight, he sought safety and protection for the three wounded soldiers. Disregarding his own safety in the face of withering hostile fire, he crossed 70 meters of exposed terrain five times to carry his wounded comrades to a more secure area.
Allen is a very humble person, and without hesitation he will tell you that he is not a hero. Like every solider, he was only doing what he was trained to do, to protect those around him. As Allen and the other Medal of Honor recipients will tell you, the Medal of Honor is not theirs. The Medal represents the heroic actions of all soldiers and is a reminder to those that made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Speaking before the students at Davenport, Iowa's Assumption High School during Catholic Schools Week on 28 January 2004, he told the students; “You see so much terror and so much trouble, and in the back of my mind, I always knew God was there." He added, "I wasn’t thinking of anything except staying alive and keeping the others alive. There was a lot of fire. You react as you were trained.” His training came from the military, he said, and from his parents, who installed a sense of faith in him at a young age. “Anything I did on that day was a result of their training and what they put into my heart,” he added.
Allen is working as an advocate for veterans as Chief of the Veteran Rights Bureau for the State of Illinois. He also shares his message with 15-20 schools a year, and with various civic and veterans organizations.
The soldiers that Allen risk his life for survived and returned home.
To read Allen's Medal of Honor citation, click here.
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by Allen J. Lynch, Medal of Honor Recipient
May 26, 2004
World War One was the defining event of the last century. It was the singular cause of the rise of world Communism. It caused the decline and fall of the English, French and Russian empires. It was the direct cause of the rise of Nazism and Adolph Hitler who caused both the holocaust and World War Two. Out of WWII came the nation of Israel, which is one of the root causes of the unrest in the Middle East. In short, we are living with the effects of the “Great War” to this day. It is clear to me that the War on Terrorism will have the same impact on this century that World War One had on the last.
How we fight Terrorism is as important as winning. The War on Terrorism is not just a war against what has been called “Radical Islam” but is a war for the very heart and soul of our country. It is critical, therefore, that we not only win but that we fight it in such a way that reflects our core values as written in the Bill of Rights and our constitution. We could very well win the war but loose the soul of our nation in the process. We, all of us, must be careful how we act and react to Radical Islam and its army of Terrorists. We must be strong both in the militaristic sense and in a moral sense.
It is critical that we have the right people in Washington to lead us in this fight. We need leaders who have the vision and the courage to do the right thing, even if it is politically damaging. We need leaders who can see past petty politics and political agendas to the greater good of all. I believe that the current administration, though flawed, is the only group up for election that can supply that leadership. When we elect a president, we elect his/her team. The current Democratic candidate for the presidency simply does not, in my judgment, understand the gravity of this war. Nor does he have a vision for this nation. Being anti-Bush is not enough to be President. Sadly, the Democratic leadership at the national level simply does not understand that, it has no vision and no plan other than ”beat Bush at any cost”.
Americans at this time in our history need a leader who will do the right thing regardless of what political polls indicate. After eight years of policy by poll, I am glad for a change. This is not to say that Clinton was a bad president. He, like all our presidents, including our current one, had flaws, but at least he had a vision for this nation. Like President Bush’s vision, not all agreed with it, but like the President Bush he at had one. We desperately need a leader who can admit his mistakes and learn from them. We need a leader who will be a moral compass for the nation. President Bush and his team are those leaders. Though I have many problems with President Bush, he has a vision and sadly the National Democratic party does not.
To read more of Allen's essay, click here.
Poems by Allen Lynch
Dreams Long Gone
Soft moving city
Lazy summer night
Easy music playing
From soft perch gazing
Seeing thinking hoping
Waiting
Looking out at where
it all began
years and years ago
Images flash of yesterday
of speeches made and of
dreams dreamed
coming close
but never getting
until now, MAYBE
The dream is gone
but not forgotten
sadness fills me
OVER?
There are those who point and say
if “I was in charge it would be this way.
If I were in charge things would be good.
If I were in charge we would do what we should.”
But where were you when it was time
to put your life on the line.
I’ll tell you where,
you were home, and were not there.
You were not in the mud and blood.
you sat at home looking smug.
You sat home and wrung your hands
hoping and praying you’d not march to the bands.
you hoped and prayed your time would not come.
As you sat at home acting dumb.
But
Now you are to old to serve.
And now that you can’t go you have found your nerve.
“Oh yes, If I were in charge” you say with grim determination
“Things would be different if I led the Nation.”
“Oh yes!” you shout as you point and wag
“Why if I were in charge I’d respect the flag.”
“Oh, where were you.” is my reply
“as other young men were sent out to die.”
You sat home and played in college
learning and learning to gain some knowledge.
Until the war was done and the killing stopped
then your education you suddenly dropped.
Now you sit in chairs of great import
Casting judgment as if it was sport.
But
You were not there and you cannot know.
Of the fear and rage that starts to grow
when you see your brothers loose their life
or legs, arms. You are filled with strife.
You’re anger grows and fills you’re soul,
it makes you grim and you feel old.
And Still
You sit in judgment of those who make decisions
you look at them with such derision.
Not for any other reason but the party difference
do you sit in judgment and condemn with inference.
America is not your concern
it is not our country for which you yearn
it is not truth or justice for which you burn,
these are not things you would die for,
it is power for which you yearn
it is power for which you burn.
It is not about the right or wrong or what is best
Oh, no that is not your quest.
Power and manipulation is your vocation
that is how you would lead the nation.
Courage and sacrifice you do not know
nor other virtues do you sow.
You only know power and greed
lies and falsehood is the seed
you plant.
May God help the nation who has leaders such as these
we listen to the television
it tells us what to think
we listen to the television
it tells us when to laugh
we listen to the television
it tells us what’s good or bad
we listen to the television
it tells us when to be sad
we listen to the television
it tells us what to wear
we listen to the television
it tells us when we stink
we read the paper
it tells us what to think
reporting fairly is not enough
we must inform the people
with right and proper stuff.
We’ll tell them how things are
but twist it just a little.
The Department of Defense announced on 19 November 2004, the launch of “America Supports You,” a nationwide program to showcase and communicate American support to the men and women of the Armed Forces.
In announcing “America Supports You,” Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Charles Abell said that thousands of Americans, including individual citizens, businesses and organizations, have spearheaded activities and projects in their communities to show their support for America’s Armed Forces, especially those serving in harm’s way.
“These activities of support have a positive impact on the morale and spirit of those who serve,” said Abell. He said the “America Supports You” program will showcase these community activities and projects on a new website http://www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil so that the American public and the U.S. military serving at home and overseas will know firsthand how much the American people appreciate their service and sacrifice.
Teenager Shauna Fleming of Los Angeles created one of the projects highlighted on the new “AmericaSupportsYou” web site. Fleming, a 15-year-old high school freshman, launched a campaign called "A Million Thanks," a year-round campaign to show U.S. military men and women, past and present, appreciation for their sacrifices, dedication and service through letters, emails, cards, prayers and thoughts.
Fleming’s story is one of many that will be profiled on the “AmericaSupportsYou” website in the coming weeks and months. Americans are invited to log on to the website and share details of activities supporting the troops that are taking place in their communities. Everyone who shares their story will receive a dog tag with the “America Supports You” logo, while supplies last.
Representatives of veterans and service organizations also joined DoD at the launch, including Edward A. Powell Jr., USO, president and chief executive officer; Raymond Felsecker, American Legion, assistant director of the National Security Foreign Relations Commission; and James R. Mueller, Veterans of Foreign Wars, senior vice commander-in-chief.
They join other organizations and associations supporting the campaign through the distribution of promotional materials and development of community-based activities.
For more information about “America Supports You,” please log on to http://www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil .
Military-heroes.com/the_heroic_raidoman is the official website for Allen J. Lynch, and it is approved and supported by Allen J. Lynch.
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