PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
MELVIN EARL NEWLIN, USMC (DECEASED) 
 

Medal of Honor Citation

Melvin Earl Newlin, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during July 1967 in Vietnam, was born 27 September 1948, in Wellsville, Ohio. He graduated from Wellsville High School, 6 June 1966.

On 18 July 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at Cleveland, Ohio, and was ordered to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, where he received recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion. Upon graduation in September 1966, he was transferred to Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and underwent infantry training with the 2d Infantry Training Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Regiment, then completed weapons special training.

In October 1966, he was assigned duty as a machine gunner with Company F, 2d Battalion, 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division, at Camp Lejeune.

He was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam in March 1967, and joined the 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, and participated in numerous operations, including Operations New Castle, Mountain Goat, Union, and Calhoun. While serving as a machine gunner with the 1st Platoon in Quang Nam Province, he was mortally wounded on 4 July 1967. He had been promoted to private first class, 1 January 1967.

His medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnamese Military Merit Medal, the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Vietnam War 1965-1973 Medal of Honor