Send us a text

Jim Lynch's life journey unfolds like a living history book of post-WWII America. From his childhood in Brooklyn during wartime blackouts to his enlistment in the newly-formed Air Force at just 17, Lynch's story captures the spirit of a generation that shaped modern America.

The centerpiece of his military career reads like a Cold War thriller—a classified mission to the North Pole in the early 1950s. "It was like going to the moon," Lynch recalls, describing harrowing flights over Arctic ice, survival in 24-hour daylight, and the intense secrecy surrounding their operations. This remarkable chapter alone provides a rare glimpse into operations few Americans have ever experienced.

Lynch's path repeatedly intersected with pivotal historical moments. His service in President Kennedy's funeral Honor Guard offers an intimate perspective on national grief: "The tears were coming off this Marine's cheek like a faucet." These firsthand observations from someone who witnessed such profound American moments are both moving and historically significant.

After his military service, Lynch built a successful 42-year home improvement business while maintaining his connections to Washington's corridors of power. His management of a suite at Capitol Center arena brought him face-to-face with celebrities and dignitaries—from Billy Joel and George Michael to Saudi royalty and high-ranking government officials including Colin Powell. His stories about these encounters reveal the extraordinary connections possible in an ordinary American life.

Now at 92, Lynch continues his tradition of service through veteran honor guards and community involvement in Michigan. His parting wisdom resonates with timeless truth: "Take an opportunity when you get it... Don't let life pass you by." Listen and be inspired by a life that spans nearly a century of American transformation, told by someone who didn't just witness history—he lived it.

Support the show

www.veteransarchives.org