Private First Class Manuel was a member of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 7 September 1950 and returned to duty on 13 October 1950. He was seriously wounded again near Kunu-ri, North Korea on 30 November 1950 and died of those wounds on 1 December 1950.

Manuel was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman 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.