Lynn Allen Pierson

Lynn Allen Pierson: A Salute

Lynn Allen Pierson, a young man with a heart as boundless as his hungry smile, was born on October 23, 1947, in Pontiac, Mich. He was the third of five children to Pinkie and Homer Pierson. Lynn’s family relocated to Marion, Ind., in 1955 when Homer’s work with General Motors called them there. In Marion, Lynn flourished with a mix of playfulness and responsibility that would define him.

At Marion High School, where he graduated in 1965, Lynn was a versatile athlete, star on the wrestling team, and loyal to friends Elmer, Mike, and Guy. Lynn was also colorblind, and most mornings asked his sister Jan which socks went with his outfit. One thing that Lynn was certain about, however, was that his 1956 Corvette was red — and a red-hot calling card.

The Vietnam War cast a shadow over the dreams of Lynn and friends. So many around him were being drafted into the Army that Lynn felt compelled to enlist on his own, to serve alongside them. Before deployment, Lynn visited Jan and her new husband Tom at Indiana University, catching up with school friends at fraternity parties and gulping down milkshakes, guessing that such simple pleasures would soon be out of reach.

Lynn’s service began Feb. 26, 1968, with the Army’s 194th MP Company near Saigon. In letters home, he shared small comforts — a base with hot water, milk with meals, outdoor movies five nights a week — that offered solace amidst the intensity of war. On April 23, Lynn’s tour was cut short when he was fatally wounded by a grenade while guarding the base. In Vietnam for two months, Lynn was 20 years old.

Lynn’s family — parents Pinkie and Homer, and siblings Bobby, Barbara, Jan, and Debbie — still grieve for the charismatic and kind young man who left an indelible mark on all who crossed his path. We salute Lynn’s courage, selflessness, and unbroken optimism.