Sergeant First Class Melvin C. Rivers

Our Hometown Heroes

Melvin C. Rivers

Injured But Returned to Duty a Week Later

Sergeant First Class Melvin C. Rivers was a member of the U.S. Army 15th Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division when he was seriously injured just before Christmas on December 22, 1950. Rivers however recovered enough from his injury to return to action and duty a week later, December 31, 1950. While fighting the enemy in South Korea a month later, January 31, 1951, SFC Rivers was killed in action.

Born on February 1, 1925, SFC Melvin C. Rivers is buried in the Rest Haven Cemetery in Griffin.

Although Rivers did not come home alive, a grateful community now honors our Hometown Hero. An individual plaque will be installed in Historic Downtown Griffin in his honor. The plaque is proudly sponsored by Dwayne Gilbert.