Honoring Monte Melkonian

Monte Melkonian

Monte Melkonian (November 25, 1957 – June 12, 1993) was an Armenian-American military commander and National Hero of both Armenia and Artsakh, renowned for his leadership during the Nagorno-Karabakh War. Born in Visalia, California, in the heart of the Central Valley near Fresno, Melkonian grew up with little connection to his Armenian heritage until a formative family trip to Turkey sparked his awareness of the Armenian Genocide and his ancestral roots.

A gifted student, he earned a Regents Scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley, where he majored in ancient Asian history and archaeology. He completed his degree in under three years and was accepted to Oxford’s graduate program—but chose instead to dedicate his life to activism and armed struggle in the Middle East.

Melkonian gained combat experience in Iran and Lebanon, defending Armenian communities and fighting for social justice. He later became a commander in Artsakh, leading forces in Martuni with discipline, strategic brilliance, and unwavering principles. His troops respected him for his fairness, sobriety, and refusal to accept privileges.

Killed in battle in 1993, Melkonian was buried at Yerablur military cemetery in Yerevan. His legacy lives on through schools, statues, and institutions bearing his name, and he remains a symbol of unity between Armenia and its global Diaspora.