Jack Charles Manis was born on 29 December 1922 to John Franklin Manis and Clara Belle Harmon. He was married to Betty Jo Manis and father of Connie Gaye Manis.
First Lieutenant was a member of the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea.
Buried at Hillcrest Cemetery, Cleveland, TN
The Chattanooga Times, August ,
Cleveland, Tenn., July – First Lt. Jack Manis, Cleveland soldier and former Bradley High School basketball star, is missing in action in Korea, according to word received here by his wife, Mrs. Betty Jo Manis, it was learned today. No details were disclosed in a telegram received by Mrs. Manis lat Thursday from the Defense Department, but relatives said today they have reason to believe he was taken prisoner while defending Christmas Hill, where Lt.Col. John Franklin Varnell, son of Mr. and Mrs. S.N. Varnell of Cleveland, was injured July .
According to a letter to his mother from a hospital in Japan, Col. Varnell expressed fears “that Jack Manis has been taken prisoner although he did our best to get him.”
Col. Varnell was commanding the Second Battalion of the 108th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, and Lt. Manis was in another battalion. Manis became missing while defending an outpost during the battle of Christmas Hill. The letter received here indicated Varnell’s battalion made unsuccessfull efforts to reach Manis before the Chinese Reds swarmed over the outpost.
A veteran of World War II, Manis is a son of Frank Manis of Cleveland. His mother died some two years ago. When the 278th Infantry Regimental Combat Team of the Tennessee National Guard was organized following World War II. Manis enlisted . Following his discharge two years later, he re-enlisted and received officer training at Fort Benning Ga., He went overseas after a furlough home last May. Mrs. Manis, the former Miss Betty Jo Jones, and their 10-year-old daughter, Connie, reside on North Ocoee Street.
- Rank: First Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 29 December 1922
- Date of death: 15 July 1953
- County: Bradley
- Hometown: Cleveland
- Service Branch: Army
- Division/Assignment: 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division
- Conflict: Korean War
- Awards: Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantrymans Badge, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and Republic of Korea War Service Medal
- Burial/Memorial Location: Hillcrest Cemetery, Cleveland, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XX, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Jack C. Manis
Image Gallery
Click a thumbnail below to view at full size.
