Cocoa in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, March 1, 2020

1. Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris Marker

Inscription. Medal of Honor recipient Melvin Morris was born in Okmulgee, Okla. January 7, 1942. Sergeant First Class Morris (U.S. Army-Retired) and family settled in Brevard County in December 1990. On March 18, 2014, the President of the United States of America, at White House ceremonies in the name of Congress, presented the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Morris for acts of gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. On September 17, 1969, then Staff Sergeant Morris was serving as Commander of a Strike Force drawn from Company D, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. During combat operations against armed enemy in the vicinity of Chi Lang, Republic of Vietnam, Staff Sergeant Morris learned that a fellow team commander had been killed near an enemy bunker and reorganized his men, splitting off with two men to recover the team commander’s body. The hostile force concentrated its fire on Staff Sergeant Morris’ three-man element, and both men accompanying him were wounded. After assisting the two wounded men back to his forces’ lines, Staff Sergeant Morris charged forward into enemy fire. With enemy machine

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gun emplacements continuously directing fire against him, Staff Sergeant Morris destroyed the positions with hand grenades and continued his assault, eliminating four bunkers. Staff Sergeant Morris was wounded three times during the enemy attack, but succeeded in retrieving his comrade and returning to friendly lines. Staff Sergeant Morris’ extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Historical marker presented for dedication by the Brevard County Civilian Military
(CivMil) Community Foundation.

Erected by Brevard County Civilian Military (CivMil) Community Foundation.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Patriots & Patriotism • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 17, 1969.

Location. 28° 21.234′ N, 80° 43.481′ W. Memorial is in Cocoa, Florida, in Brevard County. It can be reached from the intersection of Harrison

Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, March 1, 2020

2. Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris

Street and Riveredge Boulevard, on the left when traveling west. Marker and monument are located near the bandshell in Cocoa Riverfront Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 401 Riveredge Boulevard, Cocoa FL 32922, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in the Space Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Emory Lawrence Bennett (within shouting distance of this marker); Edward Postell Porcher House (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Cocoa Post Office (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cocoa Village Playhouse (about 700 feet

Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris Marker<br>(<i>tall view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, March 1, 2020

3. Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris Marker
(tall view)

away); The S. F. Travis Company (about 700 feet away); Historic Derby Street Chapel (approx. ¼ mile away); Hernandez Trail (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cocoa.

Also see . . . Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris • Congressional Medal of Honor Society. (Submitted on March 1, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris Marker • <i>wide view<br>(Edward Postell Porcher House background)</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, March 1, 2020

4. Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris Marker • wide view
(Edward Postell Porcher House background)

<i>President Barack Obama Greets Medal of Honor Recipient Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris...</i> image. Click for full size.

Pete Souza (courtesy of the Barack Obama Presidential Library), March 18, 2014

5. President Barack Obama Greets Medal of Honor Recipient Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris...

"President Barack Obama greets Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris and his family in the Oval Office, March 18, 2014. The President later awarded 24 Army veterans the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. Each veteran honored had previously been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second-highest military award, but 19 of them were previously overlooked for the Medal of Honor due to their racial or ethnic backgrounds. The ceremony followed a 12-year Pentagon review, ordered by Congress, of past discrimination in the military." - National Archives

Credits. This page was last revised on December 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,441 times since then and 125 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 1, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 5. submitted on March 2, 2020.