40 May 16 • 2019
jn

soul

of blessed memory

Bond of Brothers

ALAN MUSKOVITZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER
D

etroit brothers and WWII 
veterans, Frank and Jerry 
Manchel, 95- and 94-years-
old respectively, said goodbye to each 
other in a Baltimore hotel room on 
Sunday, May 5. The brothers were 
wrapping up a weekend trip to our 
nation’
s capital to visit the National 
World War II Memorial. 
The two enjoyed a two-hour fare-
well conversation while relaxing 
next to each other on a bed, sharing 
memories while passing time prior 
to their separate return flights home. 
“We talked about things in general …
sports, life,” Jerry said.
The trip was an all-expenses-paid 
weekend courtesy of Honor Flight 
San Diego. They’
re part of a national 
organization that provides aging vet-
erans a chance to see the memorial 
with help of volunteer guardians who 
pay their own way to be chaperons.
That Sunday chat would be the last 
time Jerry would see or speak to his 
brother. In what is now a story that 
has been covered by news agencies 
around the world and is trending on 
social media, Frank Manchel passed 
away, peacefully, an hour before his 
American Airlines chartered Honor 
Flight landed in California.

Dave Smith, founder of Honor 
Flight San Diego who was on board 
and witnessed Frank’
s passing, said: 
“It was almost instantaneous. He was 
laughing, chatting, having a good 
time — and then he collapsed.” 

Frank had made the journey from 
San Diego, where he had moved from 
Detroit in 2016 with his wife, Pearl, of 
nearly 71 years, to be closer to their 
son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Bruce 
and Janine Manchel. Bruce accompa-
nied his father while his older brother 
Howard traveled to D.C. from his 
home in Atlanta. Jerry Manchel and 
his son David flew from Detroit to 
the capital completing this extraordi-
nary patriotic family reunion.

It turns out that events that trans-
pired on that fateful return flight to 
San Diego would be the stuff of a 
Hollywood screenplay. Earlier in the 
flight, guardian Dr. Pha Le, a multi-

trip Honor Flight volunteer, went 
about his routine of having WWII 
vets sign a book he owned, Eyewitness 
to World War II. Frank autographed 
it: “F. Manchel, U.S. 
Army Signal Corp., 
England.” Who 
could have ever 
predicted that in the 
waning moments of 
that flight, it would 
be that same Dr. 
Pha Le, an emergen-
cy room physician, 
who would attempt 
to help resuscitate 
Frank?
Upon his passing, 
with son Bruce by 
his side, volunteers 
draped Frank in 
an American flag 
for the remaining 
hour of the flight. 
Chaplains offered prayers. “God Bless 
America” was sung. Then, upon land-
ing, each WWII vet paused to salute 

Frank as they disembarked. Moments 
later, medical personnel and first 
responders gathered to salute him as 
his remains made their way onto the 
tarmac. 
On Thursday, May 
9, Frank Manchel 
was laid to rest at 
Machpelah Cemetery 
in Ferndale, a service 
that included the 
Jewish War Veterans 
of Michigan Honor 
Guard. Two Amy 
officers performed 
the haunting flag 
folding ceremony, 
upon which the Stars 
and Stripes were 
presented to Pearl 
Manchel.
CarolAnn Barr, 
Jerry Manchel’
s 
daughter, tipped me 
off to the fact that her father’
s final 
farewell with her Uncle Frank in 
that Baltimore hotel room reminded 

her of another dramatic emotional 
goodbye experienced by the Manchel 
brothers. Only this one was over 70 
years ago, just prior to the two joining 
the war effort.
Frank, an Army tech sergeant 
and cryptographer, had received 
his orders to be shipped overseas to 
London. Jerry, also a tech sergeant, 
would remain stateside, finishing 
training as an Army Air Corps radio 
gunner before leaving to serve in the 
Pacific. Through their daily letter 
writing, Jerry learned that the train 
Frank would be traveling on would 
pass Fort Custer where he was sta-
tioned. 
Jerry wrote Frank informing him 
that once he knew the day and time, 
he would position himself by the 
tracks: “I’
ll be looking for you,” Jerry 
wrote. “Get in the last car of the train 
and wave to me and I’
ll see you again 
before you go overseas.” The brothers 
pulled it off. “I saw him for a second,” 
Jerry said.

Frank and Jerry Manchel enjoyed 
every moment of their Honor Flight 
journey. They were moved every step 
of the way by the outpouring of love 
and gratitude afforded them wherever 
they went in Washington, D.C. 
However, while Frank’
s death made 
headlines, it was made abundantly 
clear to me by the entire Manchel 
family that Frank and Jerry, this 
bond of brothers, would take solace 
in knowing that despite the dramatic 
circumstances surrounding Frank’
s 
passing, their Honor Flight shone 
the spotlight once more upon those 
with whom they served, the humble 
men and women of our Greatest 
Generation.
Visit the video archives at 
irakaufman.com to hear stirring trib-
utes to Frank Manchel and Google 
Frank Manchel to see the world wide 
attention news of his passing has gar-
nered. ■

Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/acting 
talent, speaker, and emcee. Visit his website 
at laughwithbigal.com,“Like” Al on Facebook 
and reach him at amuskovitz@renmedia.us.

Standing: Dr. David 

Manchel, Howard 

Manchel, Dr. Bruce 

Manchel. Sitting: 

Jerry Manchel, 

Frank Manchel.

This photo was taken shortly before Frank 

peacefully passed away on his flight home

