SGM (R) Manuel Cruz Rosario was born in Agana, Guam on September 19, 1945, to Juan and Ana (Cruz) Rosario (both deceased). He spent his early childhood in Barrigada, Guam. After completing grade school and high school in Guam, he joined the Army in March of 1965. He attended basic training and advanced training at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. His first assignment was to Neu Ulm, Germany and after two years he received orders for service in Vietnam. In January 1968, he arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to the First Infantry Division in Lai Kai, Vietnam as an Infantry Intelligence & Operations Sergeant. He completed his tour of duty in Vietnam in December 1968.

His assignments after Vietnam were Ft. Benning, Georgia; Stuttgart, Germany; Santa Cruz, California; Dublin, California; Agana, Guam; Honolulu, Hawaii; San Francisco, California; El Paso, Texas; and Cincinnati, Ohio. His assignments were mostly in recruiting duty as field recruiter, station commander, first sergeant, operations and training NCO, and finishing off his career as a Battalion Sergeant Major for the Cincinnati Recruiting Battalion. He retired from active duty in June 1987 with 22 years of service.

During his military career, he was awarded the Republic Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation; National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 device; Vietnam Service Medal w/ 4 devices; Air Medal w/ 1 device; Meritorious Service Medal w/ 3 devices; Vietnam Campaign Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge w/ 1 device; Bronze Star w/ 1 device; US Army Service Medal; Overseas Service Ribbon w/ 3 devices; Army Commendation Medal w/ 2 devices; Army Good Conduct Medal w/ 7 devices and formal training at ORSA FAM for 1 week and the Noncommissioned Officers Education Systems for 24 weeks, US Army Sergeants Major Academy, an Associate’s Degree from Columbia College and Bachelor’s Degree from San Francisco State University in Business Management and Marketing and was an Outstanding Young Men of America in 1980.

He met his wife Terrie at Naval Station, Guam while working as the Station Commander for the US Army Guam Recruiting Station in 1979. They later got married in Carson City, Nevada on February 27, 1984. They have two sons (John and Chris), two daughters (Valerie and Jessica), 11 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Manny is predeceased by three brothers and survived by four brothers and three sisters. He is additionally survived by numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews who consider Manny as a father figure and the glue of the family.

After retirement from the Army, Manny made Edgewood, Kentucky home. After his wife Terrie retired, they moved to Apollo Beach, Florida. He worked as a Manufacturer’s Representative for plastic processing equipment, which he continued to do for 30+ years.

When Manny wasn’t working, he enjoyed traveling the world with his wife Terrie. They traveled to multiple countries in Europe, Asia, Central America, and more. He also enjoyed carpentry, gardening, biking, computers, and various other skilled trades. Manny and Terrie’s last vacation was to Costa Rica in September of 2022, where they went on many excursions including zip lining, hanging out with monkeys and more. He loved to travel but what he loved most was family. Many spent much of his time bringing the family closer and connecting relatives from all over the globe. He made it his mission to make sure that the next generation could continue with a strong bond that could be passed down through the ages.

Visitation is on Thursday, February 2, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Veterans Funeral Care Funeral Home Chapel, 830 North Belcher Road, Clearwater, Florida followed by funeral service at 4:00 PM with Father Bob Swick (USMC- Captain-Retired “Purple Heart Recipient) and American Legion Post 155 providing Military Honors. The family will then receive family and friends for a reception at the Veterans Funeral Care Home Chapel “Officers Club” following the service.

Funeral mass service is on Friday, February 3, 2023, at 10:00 AM at St Anne Catholic Church, 106th 11th Avenue N/E, Ruskin, Florida with the Very Reverend John F. McEvoy, VF to officiate.

SGM Rosario’s interment will be a Mass at the “Old Post Chapel” at the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, later this year.

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