Corporal Melcher was a member of the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 15 September 1950 and evacuated to the United States on 28 September 1950. Later, he returned to Korea and was seriously wounded again in North Korea on 1 October 1952 and died of those wounds later that day.

Melcher was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.