Private First Class Meldrum was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy on Hill 202, near Sachon Goon, South Korea on 13 August 1950.

Meldrum was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, 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.