Melvin was born February 24, 1923 in Oakland, Alameda County, California to Anthony Amaral and Maria Ferreira Amaral.

In a letter dated August 27, 1942, he wrote on the top right side, "SS Kailua". The SS Kailua was formally the civilian ship Dickerson and was chartered by the US Navy and renamed the Kailua (IX-71) on May 19, 1942. Melvin was part of the original crew after the US Navy obtained control of this ship. The Kailua was used for laying cables, anti-submarine nets, and buoys in the Peral Harbor area of Hawaii.

In the above letter of August 27, 1942, he wrote to his cousin, Don Freitas, "At times when I work below, man I sweat. And I do mean sweat! I never knew I could sweat so much. The sweat that runs off my brow is enough for you and me to take a bath in and have enough left over to soak our feet."

Based on another letter from Melvin dated March 12, 1944, the return address shows "Matson S.S. Co, San Francisco". Meaning that he was a Merchant Marine for the Matson Steamship Company in San Francisco.

In February of 1945, he was assigned to the SS Hobbs and was a Junior Engineer. His service number was 278609. Melvin died on April 6, 1945, he was only 22 years old.

The duties of the Jr. Engineer, also known as the assistant, was to work directly under the Engineer of Watch. The Engineer of Watch as well as the Junior Engineer, would be in the Engine room of the ship, which is were the Kamikaze hit the ship. The Engine room on a Victory Ship would be directly under the deck of where the bridge is, in the middle section of the ship.

In a life boat, the Captain of the Hobbs asked the Chief Engineer "Were you able to get into the engine room at all?" The Chief Engineer answered; "Not a chance; it was a real inferno"

In the Transportation Officers report, he stated that "I believe men in the engine room perished because their escape was blocked by the flames."

One can only imagine the horror that must have been going on in that engine room for those that were still alive!