George Toriello sent me this researched material July 15, 2019 on Eric Mantzke whose name is on the Original Wall Unit at Hackensack High School, the World War II Plaque at Hackensack City Hall, and The 1946 Hackensack High School yearbook dedication page.
Erik Mantzke was born July 6, 1908 in New York, which means he would have graduated from Hackensack High School around 1926 of which there is no yearbook. According to the 1930 census he was living on Dock Street in Hackensack, which is not there anymore since Route 80 was developed in the 1960’s. Clifford Coyman grew up on Dock Street also.
Eric Mantzke enlisted in the Army on April 1, 1942 at the very old age of 33 and was a Private First Class 306th Infantry Regiment which received a Presidential Unit Citation for their service in the Liberation of the Philippines from October 17, 1944 to July 4, 1945.
Eric Manztke, during this continued engagement with the Japanese, was Killed in Action on May 27, 1945. Eric Mantzke is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) Honolulu, Hawaii. Eric Mantzke received the Purple Heart upon giving his life in the battle for the Philippines.
Click here to view material explaining the Battle for the Philippines of the 306th Infantry during October 1944 to July 1945.
Written by:
Bob Meli
July 17, 2019
