Although he never returned, Richard's memory is preserved in the Felton Cemetery.

Richard Rodney Mancebo was born in Santa Cruz, California, on March 12, 1928, and is believed to have been the son of Mr. & Mrs. John V. Mancebo, who had immigrated from St. George in the Azores. Nothing has been uncovered relative to his siblings or the formative years of his life. At the time of his draft registration in March 1946, he was living in San Diego, California. Mancebo indicated on his enlistment forms that he was single, had completed three years of high school and was employed in the metal finishing trade.

On March 15, 1946, Richard enlisted in the regular army in Los Angeles and requested duty in the Field Artillery branch in Hawaii. Following his basic training, he was assigned to Company B, 38th Infantry Regiment, of the 2nd Infantry Division stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. Records at the Felton Cemetery in California suggests that during this period he may have married Jean and that a daughter was born to the couple in 1948.

Following the invasion of South Korea in June 1950, the 2nd Infantry Division was hurriedly dispatched to Korea and arrived at Pusan on July 23, 1950. The division relieved the 24th Infantry Division on the Naktong River line and remained there until the breakout in late August 1950. When UN forces moved into North Korea, the 2nd Infantry advanced to Kunu-ri near the Yalu river boundary between Korea and China.

When the Chinese entered the war in November 1950, Mancebo's unit began retreating south and during April and May 1951, was located near the Chuchon Basin on Hill 1051.

During the Chinese Spring offensive May 17, 1950, Sergeant Richard R. Mancebo was captured by the Chinese and held in a prisoner of war camp until his death on August 31, 1951. His remains were never recovered.

A headstone in the Felton California cemetery was later erected in the family plot to remember him.

(CBR; ABMC; NARA2; NARAK; 2nd Inf Div, 38th Inf Regt.Korea,
http://www.2id.org/may-massacre.htm, http://www.2id.org/2-38-
m.htm, [16 September, 2008]; Rootsweb.com, Felton Cemetery
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ca/santacruz/cemeteries/
felton.txt, [16 September 2008])