Captain Mel Cotton
"C" Battery Commander 347 FA BN, 91st Division
Camp White, Oregon
Click here to read about Mels trip to Italy

In January of 1941, the last thing on Private Mel Cotton’s mind was that his one-year military obligation would be extended on the 7th of December of that year for the duration of a war yet to come. Nor did he realize that at the conclusion of that war, he would be the recipient of the Bronze Star. Private Cotton had entered the military to complete his one-year obligation so that he might return to his job as a troubleshooter and overseer for a mining dredge near Medford. On December 7th, 1941, the Army decided that Private Cotton would not only be extended for the duration of the war, but also that he would be sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to become an artillery officer.

Upon completion of Officer’s Candidate School, Mel listed on his application for his first duty station the yet to be completed, Camp White, Oregon. Although he was originally from California, Mel’s brief stay in Medford prior to his enlisting convinced him that he would like to return to the area. He also convinced several fellow graduates to list Camp White on their applications, telling them that Oregon was nothing but tall timber and white water. Mel had never seen the Agate Desert where Camp White was built. He laughs when he mentions that his classmates have never forgiven him.

Upon arriving at Camp White, 2nd Lt. Cotton’s first assignment was Aid-de-Camp to Brigadier General Edward S. Ott. Realizing that the 91st would soon see action, Mel requested that he be assigned to a combat field battery. General Ott, recognizing, the new officer’s sincere wish to serve as a field battery commander, assigned Mel to serve as the new captain for C battery, 347th Field Artillery, 91st Division. At the ripe old age of 21, Mel was to assume responsibility for overseeing the activities of 4 officers, 100 enlisted men and for 105 field artillery guns.

Captain Cotton would serve as the C Battery Commander for the war’s duration. Afterwards, he would return to the Rouge Valley where he and his wife Evelyn would raise their family.