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Navy Federal Credit Union
Stephen
Michael
Mellnik
POW (WWII) Escapee
1907

–

January 1, 1994

Cemetery:

United States Military Academy Cemetery

Stephen Mellnik graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1932. Captured in the Philippine Islands following the surrender, he was held briefly as a Prisoner of War. He was one of ten men including two Naval Officers, three Air Corps Officers, and two Marine Corps Officers who escaped after nearly a year in captivity after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor. The ten men evaded their captors for days until connecting with Filipino Guerillas under Wendell Fertig. The officers remained with the guerillas for weeks, obtaining vital information which they carried with them when they were subsequently evacuated by American submarines. Their escape was the only mass escape from a Japanese prison camp during the war. He retired with disability in 1954 as a U.S. Army Brigadier General.

Awards Received

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Coast Artillery Corps)

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Philippine Islands)

    Action Date:

    May 6, 1942 – April 4, 1943

    Major (Coast Artillery Corps) Stephen Michael Mellnik (ASN: 0-18754), United States Army, was captured by the Japanese after the fall the Philippine Islands on May 6, 1942, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his successful escape from captivity on April 4, 1943.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Coast Artillery Corps)

    Action Date:

    1944 – 1945
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Coast Artillery Corps) Stephen Michael Mellnik (ASN: 0-18754), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 1944 to 1945.

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Coast Artillery Corps)

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Philippine Islands)

    Action Date:

    April 4 – July 9, 1943
    Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 47 (August 18, 1943)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Coast Artillery Corps) Stephen Michael Mellnik (ASN: 0-18754), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Philippine Islands, from 4 April to 9 July 1943. After eleven months as a Prisoner of War, and in weakened physical condition, CommMajor Mellnik outwitted the Japanese guards on 4 April 1943, escaped from a prison camp, eluding pursuing patrols, and made his way on foot and by small boat from the vicinity of Davao to northern Mindanao. Hearing of a United States force in Misamis Occidental he contrived to reach its headquarters on foot and by launch. Arrangements for his evacuation having been made, he continued on foot through enemy-occupied territory. By using mountain trails, he avoided capture by numerous Japanese patrols and arrived at the rendezvous. Major Melnik’s courage in the face of great danger and his fortitude despite his physical weakness enabled him to escape and to rejoin the United States forces with information of great military value.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Coast Artillery Corps)

    Division:

    U.S. Army Forces, Far East

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, Philippine Coast Artillery Command, General Orders No. 50 (1942)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Coast Artillery Corps) Stephen Michael Mellnik (ASN: 0-18754), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, in action against the enemy during the defense of Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Major Mellnik, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Brigadier General

    Action Date:

    July 1956 – November 1963
    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 52 (December 18, 1963)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit to Brigadier General Stephen Michael Mellnik (ASN: 0-18754), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from July 1956 to November 1963.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Coast Artillery Corps)

    Division:

    Army Forces in the Far East

    Action Date:

    1942
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major (Coast Artillery Corps) Stephen Michael Mellnik (ASN: 0-18754), United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States with the G-4 Section, Army Forces in the Far East, in the Philippine Islands in 1942.