Corporal Manuel was a member of the 187th Airborne Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 12 February 1951 and returned to duty on 9 March 1951. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 26 May 1951.

Manuel was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.