Melvin J Jones, 86 of Pompano Beach lost his battle with cancer and passed away August 17, 2013.Mel was born June 20, 1927 in Tecumsch, Michigan and attended high school where he starred in track running the half mile as well as the quarter mile relay. After graduation, he enlisted and signed on for the duration of the war plus six months. Mel served on the destroyer USS Wadleigh and was part of Admiral Hulsey’s 2nd task force with the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay to observe the official signing of the end of World War II.After the war, Mel went to work as an able bodied seaman on the Great Lakes, then with the start of the Korean war, he was transporting troops to Korea.In 1953, Mel started a 31 year career as a merchant seaman with the USS Lines in New York as a 2nd officer Navigator, finally retiring from the sea in 1984. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Terry Hamilton Jones, two stepchildren, Sue Heald and Ed Hamilton and they produced for him 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.Mel’s wishes are to be buried at sea.