Name Grayston Lynch | ||
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Born 14 June 1923
Victoria, Texas ( 1923-06-14 ) Battles/wars World War II, Korean War, Bay of Pigs Invasion, Vietnam War, Laos Awards Intelligence Star (rare CIA valor award), (2) Silver Star, (1) Bronze Star Medal, (3) Purple Hearts Died August 10, 2008, Tampa, Florida, United States Education University of Maryland, College Park Battles and wars World War II, Korean War, Bay of Pigs Invasion, Vietnam War, Laos Service/branch Central Intelligence Agency, United States Army Unit Special Activities Division, Special Forces | ||
Allegiance United States of America | ||
Grayston L. Lynch (14 June 1923 – 10 August 2008) was an American soldier and CIA officer. He was one of the two CIA officers who commanded the faction of the army that went to war in the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The other agent was William "Rip" Robertson.
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Lynch was born in Victoria, Texas and was the son of an oil driller.
He was wounded at Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and Heartbreak Ridge in Korea; served with the Special Forces in Laos; and received three Purple Hearts, two Silver Stars and one Bronze Star with a "V" for valor, among other awards. He was selected from the elite to become a Paramilitary Operations Officer in the CIA's famed Special Activities Division in 1960. For his extraordinary heroism at the Bay of Pigs, Lynch was awarded the Intelligence Star, the CIA's most coveted award. In the six years after the Bay of Pigs invasion, he ran commando raids into Cuba. Lynch retired from the CIA in 1971.
Military service
Lynch lied about his age and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1938 and was assigned to 5th Cavalry at Fort Clark, Texas. During World War II he was assigned to the Second Division as platoon sergeant. During D-day he landed at Omaha Beach and then fought in the Battle of the Bulge where he was seriously wounded. He served in the Korean War with the Second Division as Second Lt., promoted to First Lt., wounded at Battle of Bloody Ridge. Later served in Laos with 77th Special Forces Group as Captain, retiring from them in 1960.
Education
Lynch received a BA degree in political science from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1953.
CIA career
In 1960 he joined the CIA working under Theodore Shackley.
He wrote a book, Decision for Disaster: Betrayal at the Bay of Pigs, based on his experience leading the rebel Brigade 2506. Lynch is referred to or mentioned in the following books: