Robert A. Lynch

Friday, July 27 2007 @ 04:36 AM EDT

WAVE -- LOUISVILLE (WAVE) -- The War in Iraq has claimed the life of a Louisville marine. Lance Corporal Robert A. Lynch died Tuesday on a combat mission in Iraq's Diyala province. WAVE 3's Shayla Reaves has more on the young man who died doing the job he loved.

Robert Lynch is a student Sgt. Mjr. Gary Wilson just can't forget. In just four years, he watched the kid he called Robbie grow up in the Seneca High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) program.

"Robbie was small in stature but big at heart," said Wilson of his former student. "You turn around, there was Robbie right there to help you."

Wilson says he saw potential in Robbie from the very beginning.

"He was such a pleasurable young man, could hold an adult conversation when he was just a freshman," said Wilson. "he's somebody that you know, as soon as you talk to him, you were going to like him."

It's a maturity that landed Robbie in the Marines when he graduated, a service he was proud to do. Wilson says Lynch often came back to share what he learned with those who prepared him.

"He would tell us about how excited he was about being the Marine Corps, what his mission was," Wilson said. "They'd come in here and reminisce; this was their home away from home."

Robbie visited Seneca High School just before he left for Iraq. Wilson says his former student volunteered to go on the combat mission that left him and three others dead Tuesday.

"If there was ever more of a true American, Robbie was one," said Wilson. "He was our hero."

Lynch was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher has ordered flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff until sunset on the day of Lynch's funeral to be determined.

Louisville's Mayor Jerry Abramson also ordered flags at half-staff on all the city's metro government buildings through Monday, July 30th.

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