The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier’s Medal to Captain (Infantry) Richard F. Lynch (ASN: 0-351778), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters, 90th Infantry Division in northern France. On 7 June 1944 when ****** was fatally damaged off the coast of France, Captain Lynch, at great risk to his own life, voluntarily made repeated trips to the various troop compartments of the ship, some of which were fast flooding, and order to ensure that all troops aboard were safely evacuated. As the result of Captain Lynch’s heroic efforts, together with those of other officers, all of the troops aboard were safely evacuated in the one and one-half hours before the doomed ship sank.