Born in 1910, Spokane Washington. He worked in the oil fields as a rough neck. Competed in the 1932 Olympics in race walking. Worked as an extra in several movies. Joined the US Marines in 1942? where he eventually rose to the rank of Commissioned Warrent Officer. Instituted swimming programs at Camp Pendleton prior to shipping in the Pacific Theater of WW2. Fought in hand to hand combat on Iwo Jima and several other Japanese held islands. After the war Mel came back to the…
