Manuel Rivera Jr.

Captain Manuel Rivera Jr. (September 24, 1959 - January 22, 1991) was the first serviceman of Puerto Rican descent to die in Operation Desert Shield during the Persian Gulf War.
Early years
In the 1950s, Rivera's parents moved from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States in search of opportunities. They settled down in the borough of the South Bronx in New York City, where Rivera was born and rented a low income apartment in a public housing project. At a young age Rivera became interested in obtaining a good education and in becoming a pilot. He was a good student and as a young man joined the Boy Scouts, eventually becoming an Eagle Scout. After finishing his primary education, he enrolled and attended Aviation High School pursuing his ambition of becoming a pilot. After graduating from high school, Rivera attended Dowling College in Long Island and earned his bachelor's degree.
Operation Desert Storm
Rivera was eventually promoted to the rank of Captain, and serving as personnel officer, intelligence officer and logistics officer flew in many support missions. He had ongoing plans to apply for admission to NASA as an astronaut candidate. As a USMC pilot, he was assigned to VMA-331, with service in that squadron including deployment to MCAS Iwakuni in June 1989, and upon outbreak of Operation Desert Shield, service aboard the USS Nassau. In March 1995, the United States Marines donated a McDonnell-Douglas TA-4F, a Marine Corps fighter jet, to Aviation High School in memory of Rivera Jr.. The students at the school will use the jet to learn inspection and maintenance procedures. His name was engraved in "El Monumento de la Recordación" (Monument of Remembrance), dedicated to Puerto Rico's fallen military members and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and unveiled by Puerto Rico Senate President Kenneth McClintock and PR National Guard Adjutant General Col. David Carrión Baralt on Memorial Day, 2007.
Awards, Decorations and Affiliations
Among Rivera's military decorations are the following:
*60px  Purple Heart
*60px  National Defense Service Medal
*60px  Kuwait Liberation Medal
Badges:
* 100px  Aviator Wings
* Recognized and honoured member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 3.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu