SSGT Todd Michael Melton was killed in action on 5 February 1973, when the EC-47 aircraft, callsign BARON 52, on which he was serving as an Airborne Cryptologic Linguist, was downed by enemy fire over southern Laos. Baron 52 was the last EC-47 lost to enemy fire.

SSGT Melton was born on 11 April 1949 in Milwaukee, WI, and graduated from DeSales Prep Seminary in 1967.

SSGT Melton enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on 28 March 1969, and completed basic training at Lackland AFB, TX and Vietnamese language training at Briggs Field, Ft. Bliss, TX and technical training at Goodfellow, AFB, TX. He was assigned to Det 2, 6994th Security Squadron, Danang AB, Vietnam until it closed and he was transferred on 24 December 1972 to Det 3, 6994th Security Squadron, Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.

SSGT Melton’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross (posthumously), Purple Heart (posthumously), and the Air Medal (6th OLC) posthumously).

SSGT Melton is interred in a communal grave in section 34, site 4402, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. His name is engraved on the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall on Panel 1W, line 114.

Melton Hall on Goodfellow AFB, TX is named in SSGT Melton’s honor.