MEMORIAL DAY Monday
May 29, 2017 at 10:00 A.M.
the Big Bear Valley Marine Corps League Detachment #1038 and the American Legion Post #584
will participate in a special program commemorating the sacrifices of the United
States military personnel who have died serving our Country. Veterans Park is located in Big Bear Lake,
California at the intersection of Big Bear Boulevard and Knickerbocker Road,
Lake-side.
The keynote
speaker for the solemn event will be the Brigade Commander Colonel Melton of
Fort Irwin, California.
Colonel Sidney W. Melton
Commander 916th Support Brigade
Colonel Sidney W. Melton was born in Princeton, Kentucky. He joined the
United States Army and attended One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Ft. Sill,
Oklahoma to become a Field Artillery Cannoneer. Later, he attended Officer
Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia where he was commissioned an Ordnance
Officer.
ASSIGNMENT HIGHLIGHTS:
During his career, Colonel Melton served as a Maintenance Platoon
Leader/Shop Officer and subsequent Executive Officer, 46th Support Company, Ft.
Richardson, Alaska. He held the position of Brigade Maintenance Officer, 3d
Signal Brigade, followed by the Supply and Services Officer, 64th Corps Support
Group and eventually Company Commander, 602nd Maintenance Company, Ft. Hood,
Texas.
Next, Colonel Melton was the Future Readiness Officer and Company Grade
Assignment Officer, Personnel Command. COL Melton then became the Executive
Officer, 82d Sustainment Brigade and 3 Brigade, 82d Airborne Division Support
Operations Officer, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina with deployments in support of
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. His next assignment was as a Joint Operations Officer,
United States Military Observers Group Washington, D.C.
Colonel Melton then assumed the position of Battalion Commander, Group Support Battalion,
5th Special Forces Group, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky with deployments in support of
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation NEW DAWN. Subsequently, COL Melton served
as the Logistics Branch Chief, Human Resources Command, Ft. Knox, Kentucky and
the Chief, Force Integration Division for the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4.
MILITARY AND CIVILIAN EDUCATION:
Colonel Melton earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, Texas. He also holds two Master’s
Degrees in Defense and Strategic Studies from the College of Naval Command and
Staff, Newport, Rhode Island and from the Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
Colonel Melton is a graduate of the Ordnance Officer Basic Course,
Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, the Combined Logistics Officer Advanced
Course, Ft. Lee, Virginia, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Ft.
Leavenworth, Kansas, the College of Naval Command and Staff, Newport, Rhode
Island, and the Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Colonel Melton’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star
Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint
Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal,
Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal,
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service
Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service
Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army
Superior Unit Award, Senior Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Army
Staff Identification Badge.