The Santa Cruz Sentinel Roll of Honor of May 30, 1945, includes the name Melvin McCormack, USA; however, his county connection is limited.

Melvin G. McCormack was born in Merced County, California, on February 24, 1920. His mother's name was Mildred. No information regarding his birth, family members or early life has been located. Selective Service registration information indicates that he completed four years of high school but the location of his high school is not known.

Prior to their residence in Santa Cruz County, the McCormack family lived in Santa Clara County, where Melvin worked as a farm hand. The family moved to Santa Cruz about 1942 with the intention of making it their permanent residence.

Melvin was inducted into the army in San Francisco on January 10, 1944, and listed Santa Clara County as his residence. He was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia, for basic and advanced training and in the first part of December 1944, was shipped overseas.

The army unit to which Private Melvin G. McCormack was assigned has not been identified but was likely infantry. He was reported as having been slightly wounded in Belgium on January 7, 1945, suggesting the action occurred in the aftermath of the Battle of the Bulge.

“In its entirety, the Battle of the Bulge was the bloodiest of the battles that American forces experienced in WWII, the 19,000 American dead unsurpassed by those of any other engagement. For the US Army, the Battle of the Ardennes incorporated more American troops and engaged more enemy troops than any American conflict before WWII. Although the German objective ultimately was unrealized, the Allies' own offensive timetable was set back by months. In the wake of the defeat, many experienced German units were left severely depleted of men and equipment, as German survivors retreated to the defenses of the Siegfried Line.”

On April 5, 1945, Mrs. Mildred McCormack was notified that her son Melvin had died from his wounds. The location of the remains of Private McCormack has not been identified, but they were likely returned to the United States following the war.

(CBR; NARA2; WIKI, Battle of the Bulge; SCSn January 30, 1945, April 6, 1945 1:3)