More detail on this person: Glen A. Melton Glen A. Melton, 67, a retired Major from the U.S. Army, passed away on August 16, 2008, at Select Specialty Hospital in Tallahassee, Fla. Memorial Services will be conducted at Culley's MeadowWood Chapel, 1737 Riggins Road, Tallahassee, Fla., on Sunday, August 31, 2008, at 2 p.m. EDT. He was born in Galesburg, Ill. He graduated from Valley Senior High in Fairview, Ill., and received a B.S. from Illinois State University and a master's degree from Boston University. Major Melton had a warrior spirit but a humble and compassionate heart. He honorably served a tour of duty as an enlisted soldier trained as a medical technician with the U.S. Army from 1962-64. In 1969, at the height of the Viet Nam conflict, he volunteered for the most dangerous of jobs - a medevac pilot in combat. Eighty-two percent of those who fell in Viet Nam combat survived due to the "docs," the combat medics, who were on site to treat the wounded even as bullets flew around them. From 1970-71 he served as a platoon leader with the 498th Medical Company, flying the UH-1 "Huey" medevac helicopter. In February of 1971, he was awarded the coveted Distinguished Flying Cross for his courage after he volunteered for a nighttime mission to rescue a badly wounded allied soldier. He turned on his aircraft lights so he could see the treetops and then, as he and his crew endured their enemies' fire, hovered over the battle for fifteen minutes as his crew lowered a jungle penetrator through the triple canopy jungle to retrieve the wounded soldier. During this first tour he also earned the coveted Combat Medical Badge. He volunteered for a second tour to Viet Nam as a medevac pilot and served again in 1972-73 as the executive officer and then commanding officer of the 237th Medical Detachment. During this tour he was awarded the Bronze Star. In addition to the awards already listed he was also awarded 23 air medals for valor, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Award, the Vietnam Service medal, and the Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal. After the Viet Nam conflict ended he continued serving our country on the front lines of the Cold War. Stationed in West Germany, his luck with helicopters ended in June of 1976. While landing at his base hospital after transporting a badly wounded soldier his medevac helicopter had an equipment malfunction which left it uncontrollable and the aircraft plunged 150 feet into the ground. He suffered a spine fracture and a permanent spinal cord injury which left him partially paralyzed. In 1977, after months of hospitalization he medically retired from the U.S Army. He served over half his military career oversees defending freedom from its enemies and cheating Death from its victims. Refusing to let his horrific injuries restrict him he bought a travel agency and continued traveling the world and spending time with his family. Glen was an active member of the DUSTOFF Association, the Distinguished Flying Cross Association and the FSU Boosters. He was a devoted fan of the FSU football and baseball teams. He was also a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, an avid model builder and loved the theater and traveling. On the evening of August 16, 2008, while sleeping with his daughter at his side, Major Melton entered his final battle with Death. Those who knew him and his boundless courage and fighting spirit believe that Death came for him in his sleep, because it was afraid to try and call in him while he was awake. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roland S. and Bernice (Cook) Melton and a brother, Firmon "Mel" Melton. He is survived by a daughter, Heather P. Harrington, of Tallahassee, a sister Mary Koernig, of Mesa, Ariz., and Sara Lewis, of Tallahassee, who was like a granddaughter to him. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the FSU Boosters.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 07/24/2019
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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