Manuel L. Bernard Jr. was born in California in 1916 to Mr. and Mrs. Manuel L. Bernard Sr. No additional information is available regarding his siblings or early education; however, his high school education probably took place outside of Santa Cruz County. Bernard's enlistment records indicate that he had completed two years of college (possibly Salinas Junior College), had worked as a bookkeeper and was married.

Bernard probably enrolled in Company C of the 194th Tank Battalion in Salinas, between September 1940 and February 1941, when the company was being formed. He was assigned the rank of staff sergeant and mustered into federal service with the tank company on August 26, 1941, at Ft. Lewis, Washington. In September, Sergeant Bernard and Company C were ordered to Fort Stotsenberg in the Philippine Islands.

When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in late December 1941, Manuel Bernard fought with his tank battalion in the defense of Manila and in its retreat to the Bataan peninsula.

Following the surrender of US forces and the infamous Bataan death march, Sergeant Manuel L. Bernard Jr. was sent to prisoner of war Camp O'Donnell where he died of dysentery on June 11, 1942.

Originally buried at the camp, his remains were later reburied in the Manila American Cemetery at Manila.

(NARA2; ABMC; 194TB)