re: Veteran running for mayor of Shreveport

According to his official records Melvin enlisted into the US Navy on JANUARY 25th 1989 and was discharged from the Navy during training on MARCH 27th, 1989. A few months later he enlisted in the US Army on MAY 23rd, 1989 and was Discharged due to Medical reasons on MAY 8th, 1991.

His records also show he was not anywhere near Kuwait/Iraq/Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm/Shield. Operation Desert Shield began on August 7th 1990 and Desert Storm began with the air war phase at 3 a.m., Jan. 17, 1991 (Jan. 16, 7 p.m. Eastern time) and was followed by a ground assault on 24 February 1991.

On October 11th 1989 Slack was en-route to Germany and was assigned to the 66th Transportation Company. On May 21st 1990 he was on patient hold in Fort Rucker, Alabama, and was later discharged on the 8th of May 1991. So yes, he served while Desert Storm/Shield was going on, but his records say he was not deployed in support of these operations. He was not awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal or the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal. His only awards were as follows:

Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon(For Service in Germany)
Marksmanship Badge with Rifle and Grenade Bars
National Defense Service Medal(awarded to anyone who served on active duty in the United States military during the Persian Gulf Time Period (August 2, 1990 – November 30, 1995)

So he is also not authorized the Rank of SGT, as he was discharged as a PFC. He is not authorized the SF Patch, the 4th ID patch nor any of the Air Force patches as he was never in the Air Force.