Robert Mellard
Robert Burnett Mellard was an American soldier who fought in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War, serving in the United States Army from 1938 to 1959.
He fought at the Battle of Monte Cassino and was part of the earliest strike landings at Saint-Tropez, France, Fedala, Licata, Sicily and the Battle of Anzio.
For his service, Mellard was awarded the Presidential [Unit Citation |Presidential Unit Citation], Combat Infantryman Badge, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and his unit received the French Croix de Guerre.
Personal life
Mellard was born on May 13, 1919, in Hope, New Mexico to Robert Burnett Mellard and Clyde Carrie Upchurch. Before joining the United States Army at Camp Roberts, California, he completed three years of high school, was an electrical engineer, and lived in Billings County, North Dakota and San Diego, California. Mellard is the nephew of Frank Courtney Mellard and married Helen Kanski on May 5, 1941, in Olympia, Washington.Mellard left for Europe on October 22, 1942, and did not see his wife again until their fourth anniversary in 1945 after traveling from Camp Patrick Henry to Minneapolis, Minnesota. On September 26, 1948, the couple filed for divorce. Mellard married Ida Louise Krast in Thurston County, Washington, on April 22, 1949 and Aileen Cameron on November 1, 1961. He later became a member of the San Francisco Real Estate Board.
US Army service
Mellard joined the United States Army in 1938 and his unit was Company D, 32nd Infantry Division at Fort Ord. During World War II, he was a platoon sergeant for the Third Infantry Division. Mellard was stationed in Africa but spent much of his time in battle throughout Europe in Sicily, Italy, France and Germany.Mellard was part of the first assaults at Saint-Tropez, France, Fedala, North Africa, Licata, Sicily, and in the 3rd Marine Division at Fifth Army's beachhead during the Battle of Anzio. During combat at the Battle of Monte Cassino in Alsace–Lorraine and France, he was wounded on his back, hands and legs from heavy artillery and recovered from his injuries at Letterman General Hospital. Mellard enlisted in the Korean War from April 1, 1951 – May 1, 1954. On October 31, 1959, he enlisted in the Vietnam War as a chief warrant officer.
While stationed in Long Beach, California, Mellard was awarded the Silver Star for his service on January 25, 1944, in Italy. He and a corporal ignored heavy fire in the line of duty, inching their way 100 yards outside of his infantry battalion, setting up a M252 mortar observation from a farmhouse. From his post, he directed mortar fire that destroyed an anti-tank gun, a machine gun, several enemy personnel and took out three motorcyclists. At one point, Mellard killed a German who attempted to flank him. A liaison officer and battalion commander were able to make their way to them, but the four of them took fire. Mellard and the corporal managed to retreat, but the commander was wounded and the officer was killed.