American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Melvin Peed, 91, who joined the United States Marine Corps in 1951 in Richmond, Va. After Boot Camp at Parris Island, he served with the Parris Island Fire Department for two years before being transferred to Norfolk to work in the brig (jail) at the Naval Station. He next served with a reconnaissance battalion at Camp Lejeune, where he was schooled in the repair of all types of small arms. He then worked in the armory. He returned to Parris Island for a drill instructor (DI) tour followed by duty aboard a Navy tugboat that delivered fuel oil for the power plant from Savannah. He also trained as an assault boat coxswain and then operated a Mike boat (LCM) used at Parris Island to handle the 300,000 gallon oil barge.
Peed next served a tour on Okinawa before returning to Little Creek, Va., where he instructed others on waterproofing wheeled vehicles and how to drive on sand. In 1965 he was sent to Da Nang, Vietnam to be a mechanic in a tank division. He then saw duty in Okinawa before a full tour in Yokosuka, Japan, where he inspected vehicle repairs done by the Japanese. By the end of that tour he could read, write and speak Japanese. His final assignment was at Little Creek instructing on amphibious operations. He retired in 1971 as a Staff Sergeant and moved to Beaufort in 2024.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
