Douglas Thomas Manka
Era: Vietnam
Military Branch: Navy
MANKA, Douglas Thomas
Douglas Thomas Manka was born on March 14th 1953 to Thomas Leonard & Lois Mae [Moran] Manka in Morrison, Minnesota.
Mr. Manka enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Home at entry: International Falls, Minnesota. He was assigned to the USS Henry W.Tucker (DD-374), a destroyer, part of the 7th Fleet where he began his tour in Vietnam. He rose to the rank of Navy Fireman (FN).
FN Manka was tragically killed onboard the Tucker during active duty; he was electrocuted on November 14th 1972.. But not a direct result of a hostile engagement. He was just 19 years of age.
He earned the following merits for his service:
- Gold Star,
- National Defense Service Medal, -and-
- Vietnam Campaign Medal,
SGT Manka's body was returned home and buried at St. Thomas Cemetery in International Falls, Minnesota. He is honored on the National Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall in Washington DC. He is also honored on the Wall of Remembrance in the Veterans Memorial Hall Gallery at the DEPOT in Duluth, Minnesota.
Source(s):
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Douglas Thomas Manka: PERSON, pictures and information - Fold3 - Fold3
Douglas Thomas Manka (1953-1972) - Find a Grave Memorial
U.S., Vietnam War Military Casualties, 1956-1998 - Ancestry.com
