Private Melton was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He died of other causes on 1 December 1950 near Unsan-ni, Korea.

Melton was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.