The Coquille Valley Sentinel
Coquille, Oregon
Feb 1, 2006
Jacob Eugene Melson, 22, died January 7 in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in northern Iraq. He was serving in the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment stationed in Iraq.
Jacob Melson was born October 2, 1983 in Anchorage. He graduated from the Alaska Military Youth Academy in 2001. He then attended the U.S. Army's UH-60 Helicppter Repair School at Fort Eustis, Virginia, graduating on January 15, 2002. Spec. Melson was in the National Guard for more than four years, during which time he received a dozen awards that include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and Alaska Distinguished Service Medal.
Jacob was very professional and dedicated in his work. He was full of enthusiasm. Jacob had a precious heart that he gave to his best friend, Sarah Melson, whom he met at church while growing up. They married at the foot of Hatcher Pass on July 21, 2005. His dream was to have children and grow old with Sarah right there in the Mat-Su Valley.
Jacob loved his family dearly. He was a loyal son, brother and husband willing to give his life for his family without a second thought.
A funeral was held at the Wasilla Assembly of God and interment took place at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. A second service was held for Spc. Melson and the other members of the Alaskan Army National Guard who died in the crash at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.
Family and Friends will truly miss him. Memorial gifts can be made to the Jacob Melson Fund for the Safety Bear Program, Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers, P.O. Box 100280, Anchorage, 99510.
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Spc. Jacob E. Melson of Wasilla, Alaska was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, Anchorage, Alaska; killed Jan. 7 when a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Tal Afar, Iraq. He put on his uniform, stood at the foot of Hatcher Pass and married a girl he met at a local church. Six months later he was killed in Iraq. Before that he had been a goofy, funny Valley kid who snowboarded, made his family laugh and was prone to juggle when bored. He was the third of four children and the son of Mark Melson, an Alaska Army National Guard captain. The family attended the Gospel Outreach Christian Center along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, where Melson met his future wife, Sarah, who is now in the Navy. He was 22.
Coquille, Oregon
Feb 1, 2006
Jacob Eugene Melson, 22, died January 7 in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in northern Iraq. He was serving in the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment stationed in Iraq.
Jacob Melson was born October 2, 1983 in Anchorage. He graduated from the Alaska Military Youth Academy in 2001. He then attended the U.S. Army's UH-60 Helicppter Repair School at Fort Eustis, Virginia, graduating on January 15, 2002. Spec. Melson was in the National Guard for more than four years, during which time he received a dozen awards that include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and Alaska Distinguished Service Medal.
Jacob was very professional and dedicated in his work. He was full of enthusiasm. Jacob had a precious heart that he gave to his best friend, Sarah Melson, whom he met at church while growing up. They married at the foot of Hatcher Pass on July 21, 2005. His dream was to have children and grow old with Sarah right there in the Mat-Su Valley.
Jacob loved his family dearly. He was a loyal son, brother and husband willing to give his life for his family without a second thought.
A funeral was held at the Wasilla Assembly of God and interment took place at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. A second service was held for Spc. Melson and the other members of the Alaskan Army National Guard who died in the crash at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.
Family and Friends will truly miss him. Memorial gifts can be made to the Jacob Melson Fund for the Safety Bear Program, Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers, P.O. Box 100280, Anchorage, 99510.
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Spc. Jacob E. Melson of Wasilla, Alaska was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, Anchorage, Alaska; killed Jan. 7 when a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Tal Afar, Iraq. He put on his uniform, stood at the foot of Hatcher Pass and married a girl he met at a local church. Six months later he was killed in Iraq. Before that he had been a goofy, funny Valley kid who snowboarded, made his family laugh and was prone to juggle when bored. He was the third of four children and the son of Mark Melson, an Alaska Army National Guard captain. The family attended the Gospel Outreach Christian Center along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, where Melson met his future wife, Sarah, who is now in the Navy. He was 22.
The Coquille Valley Sentinel
Coquille, Oregon
Feb 1, 2006
Jacob Eugene Melson, 22, died January 7 in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in northern Iraq. He was serving in the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment stationed in Iraq.
Jacob Melson was born October 2, 1983 in Anchorage. He graduated from the Alaska Military Youth Academy in 2001. He then attended the U.S. Army's UH-60 Helicppter Repair School at Fort Eustis, Virginia, graduating on January 15, 2002. Spec. Melson was in the National Guard for more than four years, during which time he received a dozen awards that include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and Alaska Distinguished Service Medal.
Jacob was very professional and dedicated in his work. He was full of enthusiasm. Jacob had a precious heart that he gave to his best friend, Sarah Melson, whom he met at church while growing up. They married at the foot of Hatcher Pass on July 21, 2005. His dream was to have children and grow old with Sarah right there in the Mat-Su Valley.
Jacob loved his family dearly. He was a loyal son, brother and husband willing to give his life for his family without a second thought.
A funeral was held at the Wasilla Assembly of God and interment took place at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. A second service was held for Spc. Melson and the other members of the Alaskan Army National Guard who died in the crash at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.
Family and Friends will truly miss him. Memorial gifts can be made to the Jacob Melson Fund for the Safety Bear Program, Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers, P.O. Box 100280, Anchorage, 99510.
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Spc. Jacob E. Melson of Wasilla, Alaska was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, Anchorage, Alaska; killed Jan. 7 when a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Tal Afar, Iraq. He put on his uniform, stood at the foot of Hatcher Pass and married a girl he met at a local church. Six months later he was killed in Iraq. Before that he had been a goofy, funny Valley kid who snowboarded, made his family laugh and was prone to juggle when bored. He was the third of four children and the son of Mark Melson, an Alaska Army National Guard captain. The family attended the Gospel Outreach Christian Center along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, where Melson met his future wife, Sarah, who is now in the Navy. He was 22.
Coquille, Oregon
Feb 1, 2006
Jacob Eugene Melson, 22, died January 7 in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in northern Iraq. He was serving in the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment stationed in Iraq.
Jacob Melson was born October 2, 1983 in Anchorage. He graduated from the Alaska Military Youth Academy in 2001. He then attended the U.S. Army's UH-60 Helicppter Repair School at Fort Eustis, Virginia, graduating on January 15, 2002. Spec. Melson was in the National Guard for more than four years, during which time he received a dozen awards that include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and Alaska Distinguished Service Medal.
Jacob was very professional and dedicated in his work. He was full of enthusiasm. Jacob had a precious heart that he gave to his best friend, Sarah Melson, whom he met at church while growing up. They married at the foot of Hatcher Pass on July 21, 2005. His dream was to have children and grow old with Sarah right there in the Mat-Su Valley.
Jacob loved his family dearly. He was a loyal son, brother and husband willing to give his life for his family without a second thought.
A funeral was held at the Wasilla Assembly of God and interment took place at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. A second service was held for Spc. Melson and the other members of the Alaskan Army National Guard who died in the crash at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.
Family and Friends will truly miss him. Memorial gifts can be made to the Jacob Melson Fund for the Safety Bear Program, Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers, P.O. Box 100280, Anchorage, 99510.
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Spc. Jacob E. Melson of Wasilla, Alaska was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, Anchorage, Alaska; killed Jan. 7 when a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Tal Afar, Iraq. He put on his uniform, stood at the foot of Hatcher Pass and married a girl he met at a local church. Six months later he was killed in Iraq. Before that he had been a goofy, funny Valley kid who snowboarded, made his family laugh and was prone to juggle when bored. He was the third of four children and the son of Mark Melson, an Alaska Army National Guard captain. The family attended the Gospel Outreach Christian Center along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, where Melson met his future wife, Sarah, who is now in the Navy. He was 22.
