Randall Paul Manela

Name: Randall Paul Manela

DOB: May 14, 1951

DOD: November 18, 1969

Rank: Corporal

Branch of service: Marine

Unit: 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st. Marine division

Medals: Purple Heart.

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Menela was born May 14, 1951 in Lebanon, OR. and moved with his family to Eugene in 1965. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Manela and had one brother named Micheal. Randall graduated from Sheldon High School in 1969 and entered the Marine Corps in July of that year. At 19 years old he died in South Vietnam as the result of a helicopter crash about 30 miles south of Da Nang. 18 Nov. (1969) with the 14 other men aboard the Marine Corps CH46 when it crashed into the side of a mountain in a heavy fog. It raised to 70 the number of Emerald Empire servicemen to die in the Vietnam War.

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Actual Report Of Death

In mid-November 1970 a recon team from the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion got in trouble while on patrol: their Corpsman broke his leg, necessitating that the team be extracted. Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263 was tasked with extracting them, a task that turned out to be impossible for two days.
On the third day, in CH-46D (BuNo 154837), the HMM-263 crew succeeded in picking up the eight-man team - but all fifteen men aboard the CH-46 died when it collided with a mountainside after the extraction. Three of the crewmen were from HMM-263, two from H&MS-16; the Commanding Officer of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion was aboard, as well as the extracted team.

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Interview With Tom Jordan

What relation do you have Randall? (Since you're a friend how long did you know him?) I was Randy's immediate supervisor. He was a Lance Corporal and I was a Corporal. I knew him about seven months and in a small unit like Recon, you are all friends.

Did he volunteer or was he drafted? He volunteered for the USMC and also Recon because it took some specialized training.

How did Randall feel about leaving to go to war? I don't know how he felt when he left, but being in a combat situation did not bother him. He was very good at what he did, walking point for my team.

Did he have any personal relationships when he was deployed? I don't remember if he had a girlfried back home or not.

Why did he choose the marines as opposed to other branches? The Marines were the best.

How did he feel about the war? We were there to win and we alll thought we would. It was our duty to be there.
How well did he adapt to the military life: physical regimen, barracks, food, social life? He was a good Marine with good friends in the Corps. I didn't know him stateside, but living in a hooch with him was not a problem at all.

Did he have any time for any off-dutry recreation where he was stationed? We were always on alert in Viet Nam. On occassion we did attend a USO show, usually on a Friday night. Other than that, there was no recreation there.

What is one of your favorite memories of Randall? He volunteered to be a point man as soon as he arrived in Rvn. Even on his first patrol, he was allowed to do it. He was very Gung Ho.

When was the last time you saw Randall? September 1970

What would you say to Randall now if you could? I'm sorry brother, that you didn't make it back. We were duped into thinking they would let us win the war.

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Dear Randall Manela,

We may have accidentally passed you by, but you were not forgotten. You were remembered by those who loved you the most who will never let your memory die. We’re sorry that we did not have enough time to get to know you as well as we did Robert but from what we did find out about you we could tell you were a very amazing friend and were love deeply by everyone who knew you. You were so special and you meant so much to your friend SGT. James Drummond that he named his son after you so that your memory will live on in him, a truly fitting monument to the great man that you were. What you and all the other soldiers did was incredible and we thank you for your sacrifice.

Yours truly,

Sydney and Kayla