George Melvin was born on February 19,1922 to Walter and Helen Melvin in Newburyport, Massachusetts. and attended local schools. On December 23, 1941, shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack, he enlisted in the United States Navy. Melvin volunteered for submarine duty, which suffered the highest percentage of losses during World War II.

Upon completion of Submarine School in Groton, CT, He was assigned to the USS CAPELIN (SS-289), under the command of CDR Elliot Marshall. The CAPELIN was built at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and commissioned on June 4, 1943. The fifth of a number of Balao Class submarines to be built. On September 3, 1943, the CAPELIN sailed for Brisbane, Australia and was assigned to Submarine Force - Southwest Pacific.

On October 30, 1943, They began their first war patrol and were ordered to rescue a B-24 crew in the Celebes Sea area. On the way their orders were changed to assume normal patrol in the Molucca Sea. On November 11, 1943, the CAPELIN attacked the 3127 ton cargo ship Kunitama Maru, which was escorted by two destroyers.

On November 21, 1943, the CAPELIN returned to Darwin, Australia with a defective conning tower hatch, malfunctioning bow planes and a faulty radar tube. These problems were quickly repaired and they set sail the following day. The second war patrol would include the area in the Celebes Sea around the Moratai Straight, Davao Gulf, Saran Gani Islands, Kahoe Bay, and Halmahera.

The last time the CAPELIN was heard from was December 22, 1943 when they were in contact with the USS BONEFISH. Its loss remains a mystery to this day. Post war investigations found no Japanese anti-submarine activity in that area at that time. There were mine fields in the area, most of which were known to Commander Marshall, and he would have avoided them.

Although no definite conclusions have been made, it is possible the ships material problems could have contributed to her sinking. The CAPELIN was lost with all 78 crewmen, who remain on eternal patrol.