[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 19549-19550]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO MARINE CAPTAIN JESSE MELTON, III

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. C.A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2008

  Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor 
Marine Captain Jesse Melton, III, who died serving his country on 
September 9th, 2008. Captain Jesse Melton, 29, of Randallstown, 
Maryland, died as a result of multiple traumatic injuries sustained 
while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan. Captain Melton was 
assigned to Headquarters Battery, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, 
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
  Jesse graduated from Randallstown High School in Baltimore County, 
Maryland, where he played lacrosse and baseball. He then attended 
Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania, where he studied 
communications. After his freshman year, however, Jesse decided to join 
the Marine Corps Reserve and attended Boot Camp in South Carolina, an 
experience his family says changed his life. Upon completion of his 
basic training, Jesse's drill sergeant recommended him for Officer 
Candidate School, training Jesse completed while earning his degree in 
communications from Messiah College.
  Jesse was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June of 2000 and 
served two tours in Japan. He was promoted to the rank of captain and 
deployed for a tour in Iraq. In March, Captain Melton was deployed 
again, this time to Afghanistan. He was supporting combat operations in 
the Parwan province at the time of his death.
  The Randallstown High and Messiah College alumnus is survived by his 
mother, Mrs.

[[Page 19550]]

Janice Chance, his younger sister Jenine Melton and brother Joshua 
Melton, and stepfather Charlton Chance, all of Owings Mills, Maryland, 
as well as his stepsisters Christine and Laura Chance, and his 
grandmother Ethel Matthews of Baltimore.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today in honoring the life 
of a man truly dedicated to serving his country.

                          ____________________