On February 23, 2015, Lt. Col. Melvin Rogers, suffering from PTSD and Depression, took his life with one gunshot into his heart.  He was 68. 

Lt. Col. Melvin Rogers (Retired) USMC was born on May 3^rd 1946, in Starkville, Mississippi, to the late Mr. and Mrs. David and Irene Rogers, who preceded him in death along with one Brother, James.  Melvin confessed Christ at an early age and joined the Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

Lt. Col. Rogers is survived by his wife, Anne Houston-Rogers and his Daughter, Tammarrian (Tammy) of Seattle, WA. : Sisters, Elmira (Dave), Lena, Virginia, Peggy Blossie (Jerry) and Christine , of Starkville,  MS; Brenda (Milton) of Grand Blanc, MI; Brothers, David Jr, of Chicago, IL; Robert (Diane) of Starkville, MS; and Mack Rogers of Waukegan, IL; one Uncle, James Jones of Chicago, IL; one Sister-in-Law, Minnie Rogers of Starkville, MS and a host of Nieces and Nephews and friends.

Lt. Col. Rogers accomplished many achievements during his career as an United States Marine.  He was a combat Veteran who spent time in Vietnam during the late 60s and moved through the ranks from enlisted to unrestricted Officer.  After completing the Officer Candidate School and the Basic School in Quantico, Virginia in 1975, he was assigned duty in the Engineer Equipment Maintenance/Utilities Officer, Marine Wing Engineer Squadron 17, 1^st Marine Aircraft Wing 17, and Okinawa, Japan.  Upon his return to the United States in 1976, Lt. Col. Rogers reported to the Marine Air Base Squadron 16 as the Assistant Base Service Officer and in 1977 to the Wing Engineer Squadron 37, El Toro California, where he served as the Squadron’s Logistics Officer.  Returning to Okinawa in 1982, he served as the Battalion, Third Force Services Support Group.  

In 1983, Lt. Col. Rogers was assigned to 3^rd Marine Aircraft Wing, El Toro, California where he served as a special Staff Officer in the reorganization of transitioning the Marine Wing Squadrons to Marine Wing Support Squadrons, and subsequently served as the Executive Officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 371.  In 1987, he reported to the Field Supply and Maintenance Analysis Office Two where he served as the Assistant Officer in Charge for supply and maintenance issues.  During 1991, Lt. Col. Rogers again returned to Okinawa where he served as the Regimental S-4 Officer, 12^th Marines.

Upon Lt. Col. Rogers return to the United States in July 1992, he was assigned duty as the Maritime Prepositioning Force Plans Officer, First Force Service Support Group (FSSG) where he deployed to Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope. Upon his return and after deploying to South West Asia, Kuwait on two Maritime Prepositioning Force exercises, he was subsequently assigned duty as operational plans Action Officer in the Headquarters, FSSG, G-3.  In September 1995, then he reported to Blount Island Command and was assigned duty as Director, Operations Division, United Sates Marine Corp Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS) Program.  His next assignment was at Marine Corps Support Facility, MARFORRES, New Orleans, LA, where he served as Commanding Officer until he retired after serving more than 30 years in the Military. 

To My Husband

You were and will always be the pride of my heart

Melvin, it’s so difficult to let you go

Though your death has left me no choice

I’m mourning the loss of never seeing, being and sharing with you again

Of never hearing your precious voice

It seems in life there are certain times which are more than “simply unfair” and I ask “WHY”

When my heart searches out for better answers

But cannot seem to find them there

And such is the case of your passing

Contemplating the briefness of your life

All the great things you still and would have done for the Family, Friends and this Nation

It isn’t difficult to envision the possibilities

For look at what you’ve already done…  RIP my Hero

Your Loving Wife, Anne

Dear Dad “Dadio”, so blessed am I to be your Daughter.  You taught me so much about living a life filled with courage, perseverance, strength, vulnerability, patience and the strongest and most important bond on earth, love.  You fought long and hard to live that way yourself until the unbearable, incomprehensible pain you dealt with was just too much.  I know you are at peace now and I would much rather you be at peace than suffering. 

You are with me in Spirit now, without the pain you endured for so long.  I promise, Dadio, to carry forward just like you’d want me to; living my life happy, doing the things that bring me joy, helping others as much as possible and as often as possible, and always honoring my word.  I will take every lesson, every word you’ve shared with me and continue to apply it in my life so that others can experience your beautiful, warm spirit through me.   Throughout this journey, I know you will be standing by softly whispering those words I’m so fond of, “Good job, Sweet Pea, good job.  I love you so very much."

Your loving Daughter, Tammy

Uncle Melvin, full of dignity and quiet strength, you walked through this life as a perfect example of what a man should be.  You displayed your love by being ever present for teaching and instruction.  You were like a Father to all of us, standing proud at all of our accomplishments, great or small!  You shared your knowledge by investing in each of us and were always willing to provide your wisdom in a special way.  We love you and we will miss you… Rest well.

Those of us who knew and worked with Lt. Col. Melvin Rogers respected and admired his great love for his Country and Family.  For more than 40yrs, he was an inspiration to us all.

In deep sorrow, we salute him

Fellow Marine Officers:

Harold Mitchell

Ted Lambert

George Brown