HONORED ON PANEL 50E, LINE 48 OF THE WALL
MELVIN LYNN KIRK
WALL NAME
MELVIN L KIRK
PANEL / LINE
50E/48
DATE OF BIRTH
CASUALTY PROVINCE
DATE OF CASUALTY
HOME OF RECORD
COUNTY OF RECORD
STATE
BRANCH OF SERVICE
RANK
REMEMBRANCES
LEFT FOR MELVIN LYNN KIRK
POSTED ON 5.30.2011
POSTED BY: Dennis Maloney
A fine soldier
Myself and Bob Hester shared a few words, and moments later he was gone. Easter morning 1968
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POSTED ON 12.14.2010
SGT Melvin L. Kirk
POSTED ON 12.14.2010
MELVIN L. KIRK, VIET NAM WAR HERO, IS KILLED IN ACTION DURING SECOND TOUR
Army Sgt. Melvin L. Kirks, recent recipient of the Silver Star for gallantry-in-action in Vietnam, has been killed there. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kirk were notified Wednesday morning by the Fresno army personal. Kirk, a 1964 graduate of Clovis High School, was serving his second tour of duty in Vietnam. Details of his death were not immediately available, only that he was killed last Friday. Recipient of the two Purple Hearts, in addition to the Silver Star, Kirk had only recently left an army hospital where he was stricken with malaria. The 21-year-old completed his initial year of duty in November of 1967, and then extended for an additional six-months. His second tour would have ended in mid-June. He is survived by his parents, grandmother, a brother James, and a sister, Mira. Army officials said further details and arrangements would be announced. (Clovis area newspaper, April 26, 1968)
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POSTED ON 12.14.2010
CLOVIS SOLDIER AWARDED SILVER STAR (Clovis Independent, February 23, 1968)
CLOVIS SOLDIER IS AWARDED NATION’S THIRD HIGHEST HONOR – SILVER STAR – FOR HEROICS IN VIET NAM (Clovis Independent, February 23, 1968)
Army Sgt. Melvin L. Kirk, 21, of Clovis, has been awarded the nation’s third highest award –the Silver Star-for gallantry who is presently serving his second tour of duty in Viet Name, received the award upon the unanimous nomination from his platoon after a battle last September 29. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Kirk, of 4584 East Sierra, received the citation which accompanied the award this week. A Spec.4 at the time of the battle, Kirk was point-man on a platoon attempting to reinforce another platoon which had been surrounded. As the reinforcing unit neared its destination it was ambushed by a company of North Vietnamese regulars. At the outset of the skirmish Kirk and another soldier were hit by fragments from an exploding grenade. The other soldier was killed and Kirk wounded. In spite of his injuries Kirk raced to the aid of his retreating platoon, lobbing grenades into a bamboo thicket at the top of the hill from where the enemy fire was coming. When the platoon reached cover, Kirk twice ran out into the open killing zone to help wounded comrades to safety. He then returned to recover as much gear and ammunition as he could find before finally taking cover himself. He was later evacuated with the other causalities but returned to action about a month later. Kirk has also received two Purple Hearts for injuries suffered in similar action. He recently returned for a six-month extension in Viet Name after completing his initial twelve-month tour of duty, shortly before Christmas. He is a 1964 graduate of Clovis High School. The citation which accompanied the award reads as follows: “For gallantry in action against a hostile force on September 29, 1967 in the Republic of Viet Nam. Spec. 4 Kirk was pointman for a platoon trying to reinforce another surrounded platoon which had suffered heavy casualties and was low on ammunition. Throughout the afternoon and night Spec. Kirk fearlessly spearheaded his platoon’s advance through rugged terrain as they encountered three enemy ambush positions covering avenues of approach into the beleaguered element’s area. In one such incident, even though wounded, Spec,4 Kirk courageously returned to the deadly ambush killing zone to drag wounded comrades to safety. Exposing himself directly in front of hostile machine-gun fire, Spec.4 Kirk displayed resolute determination and utter disregard for his own safety to retrieve the wounded man. Then faced with enemy grenade fire, he used his own body to protect a wounded paratrooper from further injury. Nearing the outnumbered platoon’s position”… (later in the day)… “Spec.4 Kirk, reacting to almost unseen movement, rushed to a camouflaged tunnel and killed an enemy soldier with a grenade. Through Spec.4 Kirk’s unfaltering courage, fearless determination, and aggression, the platoon was able to reach the besieged troops. Spec.4 Kirk’s unquestionable valor was in keeping in the highest tradition of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the U.S. Army.”
Army Sgt. Melvin L. Kirk, 21, of Clovis, has been awarded the nation’s third highest award –the Silver Star-for gallantry who is presently serving his second tour of duty in Viet Name, received the award upon the unanimous nomination from his platoon after a battle last September 29. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Kirk, of 4584 East Sierra, received the citation which accompanied the award this week. A Spec.4 at the time of the battle, Kirk was point-man on a platoon attempting to reinforce another platoon which had been surrounded. As the reinforcing unit neared its destination it was ambushed by a company of North Vietnamese regulars. At the outset of the skirmish Kirk and another soldier were hit by fragments from an exploding grenade. The other soldier was killed and Kirk wounded. In spite of his injuries Kirk raced to the aid of his retreating platoon, lobbing grenades into a bamboo thicket at the top of the hill from where the enemy fire was coming. When the platoon reached cover, Kirk twice ran out into the open killing zone to help wounded comrades to safety. He then returned to recover as much gear and ammunition as he could find before finally taking cover himself. He was later evacuated with the other causalities but returned to action about a month later. Kirk has also received two Purple Hearts for injuries suffered in similar action. He recently returned for a six-month extension in Viet Name after completing his initial twelve-month tour of duty, shortly before Christmas. He is a 1964 graduate of Clovis High School. The citation which accompanied the award reads as follows: “For gallantry in action against a hostile force on September 29, 1967 in the Republic of Viet Nam. Spec. 4 Kirk was pointman for a platoon trying to reinforce another surrounded platoon which had suffered heavy casualties and was low on ammunition. Throughout the afternoon and night Spec. Kirk fearlessly spearheaded his platoon’s advance through rugged terrain as they encountered three enemy ambush positions covering avenues of approach into the beleaguered element’s area. In one such incident, even though wounded, Spec,4 Kirk courageously returned to the deadly ambush killing zone to drag wounded comrades to safety. Exposing himself directly in front of hostile machine-gun fire, Spec.4 Kirk displayed resolute determination and utter disregard for his own safety to retrieve the wounded man. Then faced with enemy grenade fire, he used his own body to protect a wounded paratrooper from further injury. Nearing the outnumbered platoon’s position”… (later in the day)… “Spec.4 Kirk, reacting to almost unseen movement, rushed to a camouflaged tunnel and killed an enemy soldier with a grenade. Through Spec.4 Kirk’s unfaltering courage, fearless determination, and aggression, the platoon was able to reach the besieged troops. Spec.4 Kirk’s unquestionable valor was in keeping in the highest tradition of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the U.S. Army.”
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