AT BOMBER STATION
Sgt. Derald W. Melton, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Melton, is stationed in England at an eighth air force bomber station, according to word received here. He is a member of the crew on the “Nevada Avenger,” a B-17 that has been flown over Europe on more than 72 missions. A graduate of Abraham Lincoln high school, Melton was a student at Iowa Wesleyan college prior to entering the service.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Wednesday, November 08, 1944, Page 6
WINS AIR MEDAL
S. Sgt. Derald W. Melton, 21, has been awarded the air medal for exceptional meritorious achievement while participating in sustained bomb combat missions over 10 enemy occupied continental Europe. Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Melton, 449 Park avenue, he attended Abraham Lincoln high school and Iowa Wesleyan college prior to entering service in Dec., 1942.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Sunday, November 19, 1944, Page 6
COUNTY WAR DEAD BACK FOR BURIAL
THREE POTTAWATTIE SOLDIERS IN SHIPMENT
The bodies of three Pottawattamie county war dead are being returned to the United States aboard the army transport Barney Kirschbaum. Seventy-six Iowans are included in the 4,684 remains being returned, the department of the army announced Tuesday.
Woodring funeral home will receive the bodies of S/Sgt. Derald W. Melton, 21, son of Mrs. and Mrs. William Melton, 449 Park avenue, and of Pfc. Walter L. Moore, 24, husband of Mrs. Kerry A. Moore, 1516 Avenue I.
Blust-Berthusen funeral home of Avoca will receive the body of Sgt. Roy R. Ronnfeldt, 25, brother of Carl Ronnfeldt of Avoca.
On 35th Mission
Sgt. Melton was killed in action aboard a B-17 while flying his 35th combat mission. The plane was hit over [a] target in Germany, Dec. 27, 1944. Melton was born Dec. 12, 1924, in Colorado. He moved to Iowa with his parents and attended school at Hardin township No. 1, and at Bloomer and Abraham Lincoln high schools in Council Bluffs.
He enlisted as an air cadet in 1942. He went overseas as an enlisted man with the 8th air force. Burial will be in Walnut Hill cemetery. Survivors are the parents and a sister, Thelma Melton of Council Bluffs.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Tuesday, December 28, 1948
Obituaries
S/Sgt. DERALD W. MELTON
The body of S/Sgt. Derald W. Melton, 21, world war II veteran, will arrive in Council Bluffs Thursday and be taken to Woodring funeral home.
Sgt. Melton is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Melton, 449 Park avenue, and was killed in action Dec. 27, 1944, in the Battle of the Bulge. Funeral arrangements are pending. Burial will be in Walnut Hill with Rainbow post No. 2, American Legion, in charge. There will be no chapel services but the cortege will leave Woodring mortuary at 1:45 Friday for the cemetery.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Sunday, January 16, 1949, Page 6
Memorial Rites for Sgt. Derald Melton
Memorial services for S. Sgt. Derald W. Melton, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Melton, 449 Park avenue, will be held during the 11 a.m. services Sunday at the Broadway Methodist church, the Rev. L. E. Watson officiating. Rainbow Post No. 2 American Legion will conduct military rites at the grave in Walnut Hill at 2. p.m. Friday.
Sgt. Melton reported missing in action since Dec. 27, 1944, has been officially declared dead.
He enlisted in the air corps in November, 1942, and was with the 8th air force in England. He was on his thirty-fifth combat mission when his plane, a B-17, was hit over a target at Coblenz, Germany. Only two survivors were reported.
Sgt. Melton wore the purple heart, the air medal with three clusters and the Presidential unit citation. Other survivors include a sister, Lt. Thelma Melton, on terminal leave from the army nurse corps.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Wednesday, January 23, 1946, Page 6
