Peleas Manigrasso

Sergeant Major Peleas Manigrasso, US Army (Retired), of San Antonio passed away Monday, 24 March 2014 at 82 years of age.

He was born on 21 September 1931 in East Chicago, Indiana. He became a member of the Illinois National Guard 132nd Infantry Regiment 10 December 1947 and entered the Indiana National Guard 1 September 1950, joining the 113th Engineer Battalion. He joined the Regular Army 11 August 1952, serving in the Field Artillery branch before specializing in Air Defense Artillery. SGM Manigrasso specialized on the Nike AJAX and HERCULES missiles, as well as the SERGEANT missile. His service included tours in the Republic of Korea and Europe.

He married Lois Miller of Lakewood, Ohio 3 June 1963. Together they had two children, Paul and Mary. Upon retirement from active duty 31 August 1975, he attended courses at the University of Texas at El Paso, earning his Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1978.

His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal (7 awards), the Army of Occupation (Germany) Medal, the National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

A rosary and viewing will be held at Puente and Sons Funeral Chapel at 14315 Judson Road in San Antonio from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Thursday, 27 March. A funeral Mass will take place at Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Selma, TX at 12:15P.M. Friday, 28 March, followed by interment at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with military honors. SGM Manigrasso is survived by his wife and two children, thirteen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.