Staff Sgt. Melvin Tarla Tamfu, 30 of Raeford, NC passed away Thursday, February 2, 2023 in Duke Raleigh Hospital, Raleigh, NC.
Staff Sgt. Tamfu was born on April 9th, 1992, son to Orlickey Weih Tamfu and Belinda Kiyo Tamfu. SSG Tamfu was born and raised in the Northwest Region of Cameroon, moved to the United States in 2012 and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. He enlisted into the Army in March 2016.
Staff Sgt. Tamfu has served as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Specialist (CBRN) Specialist, CBRN Noncommissioned Officer (NCO), Civil Reconnaissance NCO, and was recommended to be a Civil Affairs Team Sergeant. SSG Tamfu's unit assignments included: F Company, 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Brigade, Fort Campbell KY, Headquarter and Headquarters Detachment (HHD) 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Campbell KY, and F Company, 91st Civil Affairs Battalion (Special Operations) (Airborne). SSG Tamfu's military and civilian education included: Toxic Agent Training, Air Assault School, Combat Life Saver Course, Technical Escort Course, Basic Leaders Course (BLC), Airborne School, Unit Armorer Course, Civil Affairs Assessment & Selection, Civil Affairs Qualification Course, Advance Leaders Course, Long Range Reconnaissance Course, Advanced Negotiations Training, and Survival, Evasion, Resistance & Escape (SERE) School. SSG Tamfu was attending Arizona University Global Campus. He was completing his Bachelor's Degree in Homeland Security and Environmental Management.
Staff Sgt. Tamfu's military awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal with Clasp, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Medal with Numeral 2, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge.
Staff Sgt. Tamfu loved playing Sports, Reading, traveling, spending time with friends and greatly loved his wife and daughter.
He is survived by his wife Kiki of Raeford, NC; his daughter Kaylani. of Raeford, NC; his parents, Orlickey Weih Tamfu and Belinda Kiyo Tamfu of Cameroon and many extended family members.
Visitation 6:00 -10:00 PM Thursday, March 9, 2023 at The Moose Event Center, 3740 Owen Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28306.
Funeral Services will be 12:00 noon Friday, March 10, 2023 at Galatia Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, NC 28304.
Burial will follow at 2:00 PM In Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery, 8220 Bragg Blvd Fort Bragg, NC 28301.
In Lieu of Flowers, Memorial may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.
