Mel found the Texas heat was indeed very hot.

Melvin C. Warwick was born in Fresno, California, on January 23, 1931, to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Elmo Warwick and was raised and educated in California's Central Valley. After Melvin graduated from high school in Fresno, the Warwick family moved to Santa Cruz County and settled in the San Lorenzo valley community of Felton.

In mid July 1951, Warwick enlisted in the US Air Force, was sent to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and assigned to the basic military training group. Melvin, who was a large man standing 6 feet in height and weighing 220 pounds, wrote home that he was well, liked service life and the training schedule, but found the temperature very hot.

On August 17, 1951, Melvin Warwick's training company was scheduled to undergo a four-mile march at the Lackland facility; however, he only made it half way through the exercise before complaining of feeling dizzy. He was taken to the base hospital where they attempted to lower his temperature from 107 degrees, but Warwick failed to respond and died from heat stroke.

His remains were returned home and following his funeral service, were interred at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno.

(USDVA; SCSn August 19, 1951 1:6)