Manuel Munoz Quintana

Manuel Munoz Quintana, 19, was born December 22, 1930 to his parents Manuel and Gertrude Quintana. His father passed away when Manuel was just one year old. Manuel grew up on the ranch in Klondyke, Arizona where he enjoyed playing marbles, rolling down the slopes in tires and the garden with many fruit trees. Manuel was a brother of five Quintana children. His mother, Gertrude, remarried to Nick Baker, and three more children were born. Their blended family now totaled eight children in all. At that age of seven, his mother sold the ranch, and the family relocated to Safford, Arizona, where Manuel continued to attend school until he enlisted in the United States Army September 20, 1949. Private First Class (Pfc) Manuel M. Quintana, was assigned to K Company, 3d Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, and was reported Missing In Action (MIA) effective 27 July 1950 near Hadong, Republic of Korea. The 3d Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, had been ordered to move toward Hadong when it unexpectedly encountered enemy forces. Private First Class Quintana was likely lost when the battalion incurred “heavy casualties” as it withdrew from the engagement. PFC Manuel Quintana remained lost and reported by the U.S. Army as MIA / KIA for many years until extensive research and forensic studies confirmed the identity of the remains discovered many years ago. He paid the ultimate price with his life, protecting his country, and will never be forgotten!