The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Lawrence Edward Lynch (ASN: 0-428150), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the 165th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, in action at Okinawa Shima, Kansi Shoto, on 12 and 24 April 1945. When an estimated battalion of Japanese artillery subjected the regimental command post to an hour and a half of intensive shelling, Chaplain Lynch, disregarding his own safety, left the security of his foxhole to administer both spiritual and physical aid to our wounded men and assisted the aid man and litter bearers in caring for and evacuating the wounded. During the time the shelling continued without letup, he did not rest for a moment, but kept moving between the regimental command post and regimental aid station. On the night of 24 April 1945, a battalion command post was subjected to an intense artillery shelling for two hours. Again, he left the security of his foxhole to administer to the needs of the wounded despite the intensity of the shelling. While returning from administering to the needs of the severely wounded enlisted men, Chaplain Lynch was hit by an artillery shell fragment and killed instantly. The gallant action displayed by this officer on these two different occasions was an inspiration to all the officers and enlisted men with whom he was in contact and reflect the highest credit on the military service.