Tuesday, April 18 2006 @ 02:43 AM EDT
Contributed by: River97
Views: 1,157
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 www.pittsburghlive.com -- Pennsylvania Army National Guard Spc. Mark W. Melcher loved Pittsburgh's sports teams, but his love of country was greater.
Melcher, 34, of Mt. Lebanon, was killed in Al Taqaddum in central Iraq, west of Baghdad, the Department of Defense announced Monday. He died Saturday when his M1A1 Abrams tank came under enemy small-arms fire.
"My son believed in the cause. He loved his country. He gave his life for his country. You don't get any better than that," said his father, John L. Melcher Sr., of Ross.
Mark Melcher was assigned to Company C of the National Guard's 1st Battalion, 103rd Armor, based in Friedens, Somerset County.
"We are extremely proud of him. He was doing what he believed in, and he wanted to be there," his father said.
The Defense Department released no other details of Melcher's death.
John Melcher said his son, who never married, was a big sports fan who enjoyed attending games with his father or friends.
"He was a big Pirates fan, a big Steelers fan, a big Penguins fan. He loved going to the games or sitting with friends, having a brew or two and watching sports on the big screen."
But he didn't have a chance to watch the Super Bowl on Feb. 5.
"He flew out to Mississippi for training, so we took him to the airport that morning. That was the last time we saw him," John Melcher said.
He said his son finished training and flew to Iraq about a month ago. His son sent his last e-mail home on Wednesday.
Melcher said he and his wife, Kathy, were informed of their son's death Saturday night.
They were waiting last night for more information from the Army and for their son's body to arrive in Dover, Del.
Mark Melcher, who grew up on the North Side, enlisted for a four-year stint in the Army shortly after his 1989 graduation from North Catholic High School.
He served in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm before returning home and going to work for Mellon Financial Corp. in October 1993.
Melcher was a longtime supervisor in Mellon's Pittsburgh Lockbox, a central payment center located Downtown, said company spokesman Ron Gruendl. Melcher's mother also works for the company.
"Mellon Financial Corp. learned with great sadness of the death of Mark Melcher in service of his nation and extends its deepest sympathy to Mark's family and friends, which includes many Mellon employees," Gruendl said.
"Mark was well-liked and respected by his co-workers throughout his time at Mellon. He was recognized a number of times over the years for his service to our customers and our community along with his loyalty and dedication to Mellon." |
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I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country-not just in OIF, but when you served during Desert Storm as well. And to your family, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
"Expedite"(With Dispatch)103rd Armor Motto