He served in the Sinai Peninsula in 1974, the desert between Egypt and Israel, as part of the UN force that supervised the ceasefire that saw the end of the Yom Kippur War.
In 1980, and already with significant overseas experience, Lynch began a tour of duty as a United Nations Military Observer in the Middle East.
This tour took place against the backdrop of a civil war in Lebanon and in September 1982 Lynch was one of the first witnesses at the scene of the Sabra and Shatila massacre in Beirut.
[1] Lynch is one of only six recipients of the Military Medal for Gallantry with Distinction,[2] which was awarded after he recovered the bodies of UN colleagues who had driven into a minefield.
[3] Lynch's citation reads: For showing exemplary loyalty to his fallen United Nations Military Observers, and with disregard for his own safety, displaying the highest degree of courage and initiative in undertaking and successfully following through a difficult and dangerous mission, behind Syrian lines, in the mountains east of Beirut on the night of the 25th of September 1982, and for reflecting through his actions during the mission, outstanding credit on himself and his country.