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Zero to Hero: From Bullied Kid to Warrior
Contributor(s): Lynch, Allen J. (Author), Ernsberger, Richard (With)
ISBN: 0998968927     ISBN-13: 9780998968926
Publisher: Pritzker Military Museum & Library
OUR PRICE:   $22.50  
Product Type: Hardcover
Published: March 2019
Qty:
Temporarily out of stock - Will ship within 2 to 5 weeks
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Biography & Autobiography | Military
- History | Military - Vietnam War
- Biography & Autobiography | Personal Memoirs
Dewey: B
Physical Information: 1.1" H x 5.9" W x 8.4" (1.60 lbs) 370 pages
Themes:
- Cultural Region - Southeast Asian
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:

This is the life story of Al Lynch in his own words -- an American hero who is now one of only 72 living Medal of Honor recipients. This is the story of a happy boy growing up in Chicagoland's South Side industrial neighborhoods. His early happiness was almost eradicated by several years of intense bullying, though he found ways to overcome that experience. This is the story of an aimless young man whose prospects of following in his father's foot-steps as a blue-collar tradesman were cut short by the Vietnam War and by his personal search for something greater than himself. This is the story of a man whose meandering military career, and his life up to that point, came into sharp focus when, in a deadly firefight in Vietnam, he rushed to rescue three wounded troopers in no man's land. He was urged to leave the wounded and return to a safe position. But Lynch refused to retreat in order to stay with his troopers despite having every reason to believe he would die that afternoon. Because of these actions, he is a hero.

This is also the story of the many troubling consequences of surviving battles while others died, sometimes tragically due to friendly fi re or the random violence of an aimless war. This is the story of a man whose sense of honesty and independence has been honed over a lifetime of mistakes and victories toward always doing the right thing, no matter the cost. And this is the story of a man who learned that independence can be a selfish burden, and that life is not only about helping others, but allowing others to help him. So this is a story of a man who overcame the dragons of PTSD with the help of his family and friends, and by being honest with himself. Al Lynch has written a story that speaks to all of us -- one doesn't have to be a war hero to be wounded by life. By the writing of Zero to Hero, Al shows us the stuff of which heroes are made.


Contributor Bio(s): Lynch, Allen J.: - ALLEN J. LYNCH is a Chicago native, a veteran of the United States Army, and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for combat actions in the Vietnam War. On December 15, 1967, Lynch and the rest of his platoon were on their way back for a well-deserved rest when they were called in to support another company that had been outnumbered by an enemy force. Under intense fire, Lynch carried three wounded soldiers to safety, and single-handedly defended them against the advancing enemy force for several hours. His quick-thinking and disregard for his own safety were vital in saving those lives, but his fight on behalf of his fellow soldiers did not end on the battlefield. After leaving active duty, Lynch worked for several years in the Veterans Administration, advocating for increased benefits for disabled veterans, and served most recently as chief of the Veterans Rights Bureau for the Illinois Attorney General's Office. Now retired, he continues that commitment as president and founder of the Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation.Ernsberger, Richard, Jr.: - Richard Ernsberger, Jr., a 20-year veteran Newsweek reporter and editor, co-authored The General: William Levine, Citizen Soldier.