RESIDENCE (DURING WWII):
Liverpool, Ohio
FULL NAME:
Lunsford R. Melvin
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (ASN):
13128806
- DATE OF BIRTH: Jan 27, 1922
- DATE OF DEATH: Jan 14, 2009
DATE / PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
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DATE OF ENLISTMENT:Sept 30, 1942
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PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:Pittsburgh, Pennnsylvania
ORGANIZATION:
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MAIN UNIT:9th Infantry Regiment
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SUBUNIT:Company B, 1st Battalion
RANK / POSITION IN UNIT (LAST KNOWN):
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RANK:Private (Pvt.)
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POSITION IN UNIT:Rifleman
BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS:
✭ Normandy Campaign (6 June – 24 July 1944), ✭ Northern France Campaign (25 July – 14 September 1944), ✭ Central Europe Campaign (22 March – 11 May 1945)
DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS (AWARDS):
🎖Purple Heart, 🎖Good Conduct Medal, 🎖American Campaign Medal, 🎖Combat Infantry Badge
SUMMARY OF HIS SERVICE:
"Trained at Fort Mitchel in Wisconsin. On Oct 1, 1943 Company B at Camp Shanks, New York. On November 1, 1943 Company B is at Armagh Barracks , Northern Ireland. June 8, 1944 Omaha Beach Invasion, participated in Hill 192 in first wave and second wave.
He was a very quiet man, never really spoke about his WW2 time. Did tell once about how one of his buddies fell back into his arm after being killed by a German sniper as he peered over a hedge row. Also like to show us his arm wear a piece of shrapnel from a grenade was lodged. Never received a purple heart for that. He grew up in Liverpool Ohio. Learned how to play billiards which he was very good at. Also learned how to gamble. Like craps. I can remember him having friends over and they played craps in our formal living room! I wondered why he never taught me to play craps. I asked a craps manager once when I visited Las Vegas a few years ago and he said:” he did you a big favor not reaching you how to play!” I now understand. Returned to college after returning from war, received a accountant’s degree from what is LCC now in Lansing Michigan. Spent his working life in his own insurance agency Elsie Michigan (Carter-Melvin insurance agency). Raised 4 children with his sweetheart Catherine (Robinson) Melvin.
He was a very honest hardworking man who underestimated his accomplishments. Many other memories to many to list , His is sorely" remembers his son, Mr. Daryl R. Melvin.
