Born: February 12, 1922
Died: February 12, 1989
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima
Highest Rank Attained: Corporal
Decorations:
Melvin Burzynski was an original member of Baker Company, 24th Marines. As a private, he carried ammunition for a light machine gun crew; he was promoted to Private First Class shortly before shipping out for the battle of Namur.
While stationed at Camp Maui in the spring of 1944, PFC Burzynski was re-qualified as a BAR gunner. He joined one of the rifle platoons and carried the heavy suppport weapon through the battles of Saipan and Tinian.
Burzynski returned to Camp Maui after Tinian. He was promoted to corporal and again reassigned; he served as an armorer on Iwo Jima. He was evacuated for illness on February 22, but returned to the lines the next day. Aside from the brief illness, Burzynski was present for every day of combat that Baker Company experienced.
Melvin Burzynski returned to Ohio after the war. He died at Mercy Hospital, Toledo, on his sixty-seventh birthday.