Sad news, a lovely bloke.
I was on the 84th Airborne Cavalry with Mel
Crew room rumour about his AFC award was that when the TV people included his exploits in one of those "999 Emergency" type programs, they couldn't get a professional stuntman to do what he did. I believe he had to persuade the remaining ship's crew to jump from the burning tanker into the oggin, by demonstration. Twice. There must be a clip out there.
RIP Mel.
SPHLC