Hugh H. Melrose
Pfc. Hugh H. Melrose, U.S. Army
Photo courtesy of Wendel Melrose.
The Western Star, July 28, 1944.
PROTECTION SOLDIER KILLED IN ACTION
Word was received in Protection Monday that Sgt. Hugh Melrose of Protection was killed in action on June 10 in the Normandy area of France. He is the husband of Mrs. Ruth Wymer-Melrose, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Wymer of Protection.
Sgt. Melrose's parents reside at Durango, Colo., and he entered the service from that state in 1942. He has been overseas since early last spring and was a member of the infantry. He visited his wife and twin babies and an older daughter before going overseas.
He had been reported missing in action for some time, but the news of his death was not announced until July 24. The sorrowing relatives have the deep felt sympathy of all. No other information is available at this time.
The Western Star, August 4, 1944.
PROTECTION SOLDIER DIES in INVASION of FRANCE.Pfc. Hugh H. Melrose Leaves Wife and Three Children.
Mrs. Hugh H. Melrose of Protection received word July 24 from the War Department stating her husband, Pfc. Hugh H. Melrose had been killed in action in France. Mrs. Melrose had been notified on July 5, that Pfc. Melrose was missing in action since June 12. The last word from Hugh was written June 3. He was the eldest son of J. M. Melrose of Arboles, Colo. Hugh was born March 15, 1907, at Mancos, Colo. He has three sisters and one brother, Pvt. Guy E. Melrose of the United States Army. His childhood was spent in the high plateau country of Colorado, the desert mining region of Arizona, and on the home ranch near Arboles, where he attended the Arboles public schools. He had since been in partnership with his father, operating a dairy and fruit ranch.
Pfc. Melrose volunteered for service in the United States Army and was accepted on March 25th. 1942, at Fort Logan, Colo. He was assigned to Camp Barkeley, Texas, and there received his basic training. He was on maneuvers in Louisiana and at the California Desert Training Center. He entrained December 27, 1943, for Fort Dix, New Jersey, where he received further training. He was sent overseas in March 1944, for a period of intensive training in England. Pfc. Melrose served as advanced scout.
Pfc. Melrose was united in marriage with Mrs. Ruth LeBarre, December 25, 1942, at Abilene, Texas. They have twin babes, a son, Wendell Hugh and a daughter, Patricia Lynn, now ten months old. Pfc. also leaves to mourn his loss a four year old stepdaughter, Sharon Ruth LeBarre. His last visit with his family was in February of this year. Mrs. Melrose is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Wymer of Protection.The details of Pfc. Melrose's death in France six days after D Day are not yet known. The sorrowing relatives have the sincere sympathy of all.
The Protection Post, July 28, 1944. One Missing, One Lost in France
Protection community received a double shock Monday morning with the arrival of two telegrams sent by the war department, one of them reporting the death of Pfc. Hugh Melrose, husband of Mrs. Ruth Melrose, and the other listing Pvt. Howard King, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. King, as missing in action, presumably in France.
Mrs. Melrose had been informed previously that her husband was missing on June 12th and Monday's telegram confirmed her fear that he had met death in the invasion.
Pfc. Hugh Melrose was born March 15, 1907 at Mancos, Colo. He enlisted in the United States army in March 1942. His training was received at Camp Barkley, Tex., and on maneuvers in Louisiana and the California Desert Training Center and he was sent overseas in March, 1944, for a period of intensive training in England.
Pfc. Melrose served as an advance scout. Last word received from him was written June 3.
He was united in marriage to Ruth La Barre on December 25, 1942. Twins, a boy and a girl, were born to them September 18, 1943. His last visit with his family was in February of this year just before going overseas. Mrs. Melrose is a daughter of L. C. Wymer.
Howard King left Protection to enter the service over a year ago and received his training at Fort McClellan, Ala. He was home on a furlough in December of last year. He went oversees in January of this year and received further training in England previous to the invasion. The last letter received by his parents was written June 13th. The telegram stated that he had been missing in action since June 18th.
His family and Protection friends continue to hope that a subsequent message announcing his safety may soon be received.
15 July 2007:
To Jerry Ferrin:
Per your request for a better photo of my dad, I have attached what I believe is his official Army photo. He never lived at Protection, Kansas, but my mother and her family lived there from about 1927. Hugh and my mother married at Abilene, Texas, while he was at Camp Barkeley there. My twin sister and I were born at Ashland, Kansas, in Sept. 1943.
Regards,
Wendel Melrose
Thanks to Wendel Melrose for the photograph of his father. Thanks to Shirley Brier for transcribing and contributing the above news articles!
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This page was last updated 10 August 2007.