Marine Lance Corporal Robert E. Flynn was born and raised in Dorchester. He was wounded in action in Afghanistan last week.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Rob Flynn, a 22-year-old from Dorchester’s Adams Corner neighborhood, and four other Marines were wounded in Afghanistan last week when their vehicle was struck by a improvised explosive device (IED). Flynn had returned to the war zone within the last two weeks for his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Flynn, an alumnus of St. Brendan’s School and Archbishop Williams High School, is being treated for his wounds in Afghanistan, news that his family interprets as relatively good since the other four Marines were transported to a U.S. military base in Germany with more serious injuries.

Rob’s brother Sean, a Boston Police officer who also lives in Dorchester, said his brother’s injuries included lacerations, burns, and a concussion. He has no memory of the attack on his convoy.
“He was unbelievably lucky,” Sean said to the Reporter. “If he was in real trouble he would have woken up in Germany.”

It is not clear yet whether Cpl. Flynn will return home or stay in Afghanistan.

Flynn’s family is anxious to speak with him further about his condition, but their immediate fears for his survival have been eased, thanks in large part to a network of neighbors that quickly sprang up to support them.

“You talk about the Dorchester connection and it’s just been unbelievable the way people have rallied to help us out,” said Sean Flynn.

Over the weekend, several Dorchester men with Marine Corps roots and connections helped the family get details on Rob’s condition.

Sean said that fellow Boston Police officers Paul Coughlin, Danny Keeler and Anthony Perella were particularly helpful in navigating the military back channels to find out critical information about Rob’s whereabouts and his prognosis for recovery.

“These guys were just fantastic. They’ve been such a help to our family,” he said.