STAFF REPORT
After more than seven decades, a 93-year-old veteran from Corona has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his courageous service in the Korean War.
George Mello, who fought in five major battles during the conflict, expressed gratitude for being alive to finally receive this long-overdue recognition. “I was overwhelmed with all the publicity and the congressman and so forth,” Mello said, reflecting on the ceremony held in March.
At just 17 years old, Mello enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent his first two years as a construction engineer traveling across the country. However, in 1950, just days after the Korean War broke out, he was deployed to the Korean peninsula. “I got there five days after the Korean War broke out,” he recalled.
Mello vividly remembers the chaotic sights and sounds of battle, describing how enemies fought at night, filling the air with the sounds of bugles and chaos designed to instill fear. His bravery during five major engagements came at great personal risk, with close calls that nearly cost him his life on multiple occasions.
Despite his heroic actions, Mello faced an unexpected challenge: the Army lost his paperwork related to his award. “The problem that I had with the service… they lost my paperwork,” he explained. Although he never forgot about the Bronze Star, it wasn’t until he reached out to Congressman Ken Calvert’s office for assistance that the process was finally set in motion.
Calvert’s office guided Mello through the necessary paperwork, leading to a heartwarming ceremony in March. Surrounded by his children and friends at his retirement home in Valencia Terrace, Mello was finally pinned with the Bronze Star by Congressman Calvert. “He was a brave soldier who served for some time in that conflict and was finally given the recognition he deserved,” Calvert remarked during the event.
The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest military honor awarded for acts of heroism and meritorious service in combat. Mello’s long-awaited recognition serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by veterans and the importance of honoring their legacy.
For George Mello, the award is not just a medal; it symbolizes a lifetime of bravery, resilience, and the fulfillment of a promise to remember those who served.