Manuel "Manny" Rodriguez was an NCO in the 1st Marine Division, along with his best friends John Basilone and J.P. Morgan.
History[]
Manny is introduced along with Basilone and J.P. as they listen to a speech by Lieutenant Colonel Lewis "Chesty" Puller. The three then visit the Basilones' home to enjoy Christmas with John's family.
Guadalcanal[]
Some time after Robert Leckie's unit landed on Guadalcanal, Manny's unit D Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (D/1/7), arrived and began to hunt down the remaining Japanese still on the island. Manny was assigned as a runner and johnny-on-the-spot, serving a pivotal role in the battle. After Chesty got a report that the Japanese were heading towards his position, Chesty sent Manny to help the Marines.
Manny is next seen some time into an intense battle. Basilone ran back to get some ammo for the machine guns when he suddenly bumped into a Japanese soldier. Luckily, Manny was there to save him, shooting the soldier down with his Tommy gun.
The morning after the battle, Manny appears to be missing, and after some searching, Manny's corpse is found by Basilone.
Legacy[]
Morgan and Basilone toast Manny when they got to Melbourne, Australia, setting a third drink at the table for him.
Also, when John is playing golf in a later episode, he gets flashbacks of Manny's death on Guadalcanal.
Background[]
Manuel Rodriguez was not a real person. He may be a composite of several real people, or simply a device to advance Basilone's storyline.
There was an Army lieutenant named Manuel P. Rodriguez (1922-1942), but he died in The Philippines before the Guadalcanal campaign.[1]