Melvin enlisted into the U S Army, April 19, 1940, at Fort Frances E Warren, Wyoming.  He was a staff sergeant in the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303 Bomb Group.  He departed for Europe on September 5, 1942.  He received the European African Middle Eastern Theater ribbon with 3 bronze stars, the Good Conduct Medal and Distinguished Unit Citation.  He returned from Europe on September 26, 1944 and was discharged from Camp Atterbury, Indiana on August 2, 1945.  He married in October 1944 and has nine children.  Melvin worked for 30 years for General Motors in Flint, Michigan, retiring in 1976.  He passed away February 12, 1989.