Scope and Contents

The collection consists of approximately half of a linear foot of research materials accumulated by Charles Melson during his research on the South Vietnamese Marine Corps conducted while serving as Chief Historian for the U.S. Marine Corps at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia. The materials include books; reference files; essays, articles, and clippings; memos and correspondence; notes; reports; course materials; booklets; unit histories; award citations; and speeches. The materials are dated 1970-2021.

Biographical / Historical

Charles D. Melson served with the U.S. Marine Corps for 25 years. He held infantry and staff positions with Battalion Landing Teams (1st and 2nd Battalions, 9th Marines) and Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (9th Amphibious Brigade, 31st and 33rd Marine Amphibious Units), along with positions in intelligence (4th Amphibious Brigade and 32nd Marine Amphibious Unit), surveillance (Marine Observation Squadron 1 and 2nd Radio Battalion), and reconnaissance (1st Reconnaissance Battalion and 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company).