Melvin Rinaldo "Mel" Kunkel was born on Saturday, August 5, 1922 in Pennsauken, Camden County, New Jersey. He was the son of Ethel May (Behm) and Rinaldo Kunkel.

In the 1930 census, they were living at 1083 Lois in Camden City, Camden County, NJ. By 1935 through the 1940 census, the family was at 207 Church Road in South Merchantville Village, Delaware Township, Camden County.

On Tuesday, January 2, 1922, he married Winifred B. "Winnie" Roper.

Melvin joined the U.S. Marine Corps on September 15, 1942 and served in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was discharged on March 31, 1963 with the rank of Staff Seargent.

After his service, he was the head chef at the Embers Restaurant in York, Pennsylvania for 15 years.

Melvin died on July 19, 2001 at the age of 78 in York Hospital in York, PA. He was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

In a few records, he was listed as Rinaldo M. Kunkel. He was sometimes called Bud Kunkel.