Services announced for Fall River hero, loved by many, Manny Carvalho

We received this touching tribute and obituary from Ryan Flynn concerning a Fall River hero who died this past weekend.

Manuel “Manny” P Carvalho, 99, the husband of preceded wife Doris (Guimond) Carvalho. Manny of Fall River, Ma, passed away peacefully Saturday, May 18, 2024, at St Anne’s Hospital in Fall River. Manny was surrounded by the truly amazing medical staff and close friends to the end.

Manny, born and raised in Fall River, Ma, and after completing the 8th grade, went into the work force, working for New England Wholesale, for which he delivered supplies to all the local restaurants, bakeries and establishments in the city, lumping at times 100-pound bags of flour, sugar and other dry goods.

At the age of 18 Manny completed his draft card registration on December 28, 1942.

Manny enlisted into the United States Army on 4/13/1943, he attended an 8-week basic training, he then went on for more advanced training in the Tank Corps learning how to drive and maneuver tanks.

The demand for infantry soldiers was insatiable and immediate. There was no post-basic advanced infantry training. G.I.s deployed to the front lines after receiving a short leave to spend some time with their families.

Manny departed from Fort Knox, Kentucky for the European Theater of Operations on November 3, 1943, and arrived November 24,1943.

On November 26, 1943, the United States suffered the greatest loss of life at sea in history, when the HMT Ronha, for which Manny was aboard, was sunk by a guided missile launched from a German bomber off the coast of North Africa, Crete, where a total of 1,015 perished that day with over 2000 crew and troops aboard. Manny spent the next 5 hours in the frigid cold water floating and dog paddling in fuel and debris, filled Mediterranean ocean water, until he was rescued and extracted from the ocean water by a rescue boat. A gag order was immediately placed on them, their mail was monitored, and they were never to speak of the event, or face harsh military punishment, that lasted 50 years.

Manny then went on after the bombing to serve in the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign from January 6, 1944, to February 2, 1944, and served in the United States from January 9, 1946, to February 4, 1946, when he was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant, from Ft Devens Ma.

Upon military discharge, Manny went back to work in the wholesale industry again, till 04-01-1959 when he was hired as a maintenance worker for housing, which he was responsible to maintain all building / property and to perform all tenant maintenance in all the housing projects in Fall River.

Manny retired in 1991, after the passing of his wife Doris, from Fall River Housing Authority, after 32 years of dedicated service and achieving the official title of Assistant to Superintendent of Maintenance.

After retirement, Manny enjoyed riding his motorcycle with his retired buddies and simply just enjoying life. Of course, he was most proud of letting everyone know how long he had been collected his pension for, 33 years in the books.

Manny was a long-standing member of the Liberal Club and prided himself on being the oldest member, and proud to follow in his father footsteps as a club member.

You would often see Manny bring joy and laugher to those around him, as he enjoyed his favorite cold beer, Miller High Life, as he sat on the bar stool and observed everything, for which he did daily, till his passing at the age of 99. Manny truly touched those people around him with his wisdom, advice, humbleness, generosity and laughter and made those around him better people for sure.

It wasn’t till year 2020 at the age of 96, after 75 years, till Manny persuaded it himself, and was presented with the medals and recognition he deserved by a Congressman at City Hall. Fall River auditorium. That day, Manny received the World War 2 Victory Medal, the European, African and Eastern Campaign Theater medal, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign medal, and the Honorable Serve Medal and in true Manny fashion, declined to make a speech.

Other medals Manny also was awarded was the Bronze Star “V”, the Good Conduct medal, and the Victory medal.

Graveside service to which relatives and friends are invited will be FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2024, AT BEECH GROVE CEMETERY, WESTPORT AT 10AM.