Corporal Manuel John Pimentel, of Medford, cherished son of the late Joseph N. and Evangeline (Incarmecao) Pimentel. He was the dear brother of the late Harold and Joseph. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Manuel enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on October 11th, 1939. He served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and was killed in action on September 24th, 1942, at the Guadalcanal.
Cpl Pimentel was reportedly buried in a Marine cemetery on the Island, but searches of the site following the end of hostilities were unable to locate his remains. Cpl Pimentel was memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
During a recent excavation at the Lunga Guadalcanal skeletal remains were found. Possible relatives of fallen soldiers were contacted and asked to participate in a voluntary DNA test. Manuel’s nephew Manuel (who was named after his late uncle) took the test and was a positive match. Cpl Manuel will be reunited with his family after 82 years and laid to rest with his mother Evangeline and his brother Joseph at their family grave.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visit with Manuel's family at St. Joseph Church, 118 High St., Medford on Monday, April 29th from 11 to 12:30 PM with a service at 12:30 PM. Burial will follow at Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge.