US Marine PFC Rodney Wayne Melton, Born in North Carolina, He later became a native of Pennsylvania.

US Marine Private First Class Rodney Wayne Melton was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Marine Corps, PFC Melton served our country until May 5th, 1968 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam. He was 21 years old and was not married. It was reported that Rodney died from artillery fire. His body was recovered. Rodney was born on January 1st, 1947 in Burlington, North Carolina. PFC Melton is on panel 55E, line 022 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for less than a year.

Marine PFC Rodney Wayne Melton, 21, son of Mrs. James A Caton, of 19 Vista Road, Reading, Pennsylvania. PFC Melton died of fragment wounds from rocket fire while on patrol in Quang Nam Province last Sunday. A 1964 graduate of Wyomissing High School, he attended Harvey College in Charleston, West Virginia, before enlisting in September, 1967.

Rodney was born in Burlington, NC. He was a member of the First Church of the Brethren, Wyomissing Hills, and graduated from Wyomissing High School in 1965. Known as 'Scooter,' he played varsity football in school. He enjoyed the seashore, water skiing, hunting and drag racing. He was a member of the Junior Fire Brigade of the Wyomissing Fire Company. Rodney attended Morris Harvey College in West Virginia for two years before enlisting in the Marine Corps. He was selected as the outstanding recruit of his platoon in boot camp. Scooter told his family he did not like having to go to Vietnam, but he did not mind if his younger brother and sister would have the same good life and opportunities that he had. In Vietnam, Rodney was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment. In his only letter home, he told his family that all the training and all he'd seen and been told, didn't prepare him for what it was really like when he got there. Scooter was killed by enemy rocket fire while on patrol in Quang Nam Province. Surviving at the time were his mother, father, one sister and one brother.

He is the son of Mr Belvin Webster Melton.

He served with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marines Division, 3rd MAF.

He was awarded The Combat Action Ribbon(CAR), The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal.


Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. Plot: Sect. 51, Site 2616
(source: Reece, Jim & Reece Thomas;NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites)