Corporal Menchaca was the squad leader of the 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Company H, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 13 July 1951.

Menchaca was awarded the Purple Heart, 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.