SGM Manuel Gordley, 80, passed away Friday, March 27, 2020, in his home in San Angelo, TX.
Manuel Gordley was born January 21, 1940, in Sweet Home, TX. to the late Louis Carter Gordley, Sr. and Louise Elizabeth (Cleveland) Gordley. He accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Corinth Missionary Baptist Church in Sweet Home, under the leadership of the late Reverend Leonard Morris James, and the shaping of his future spiritual life commenced with his Sunday School Teacher, the late Sister Laura James.
Manuel completed his first eight years of schooling at Sweet Home Colored School under the teachings of the late Elinor Bell Butler and Sister Florence O. (Butler) Meadows. Because of his eagerness to learn, these two sisters laid the foundation for him to learn. Not only did he achieve the record as a straight "A" student during these eight years, he was awarded Certificates for not being tardy or missing a day during the school year. They instilled in him their motto: "Good Better Best, Never Let It Rest; Until Good Is Better and Better Is Best." He was appointed to President of the Lavaca County 4-H Club under the leadership of the late J. J. Adams, County Agent for the Lavaca County of Texas. This was the birth, the beginning of all his future achievements in life. He graduated from Asberry High School in Yoakum, TX, class of 1957 and 1958 with honors. He played two sports in school which were football and fast pitch softball. He was the fast pitcher for the team.
He spent his high school years working before and after school in the capacity of Supervisor at the Sweet Home Dairy Farm for the late George P. Baron, Superintendent of Dewitt County Independent School District. When he came aboard, the Dairy Farm was experiencing weekly high bacteria counts. The owner, being highly concerned and disturbed, demanded for ideas from the employees as to how these high counts of bacteria could be lowered. He was the only employee with an idea. His idea was: "Let Only One Person Do the Milking." He was the chosen person. In just a short span of days, the bacteria count was lowered from a high eight hundred to a low one hundred and he was rewarded for his idea. He attended high school and at the same time joined the U.S. Army Reserves in January 1957. After graduating from high school, he attended his six months of Reservist active duty training requirements from June to December 1958. In February 1959 he decided to join the Regular Army and see the world.
His stateside assignments were: Fort Chaffee, AR; Fort Jackson, SC; Fort Ord, California; Camp Roberts, CA; Fort Sill, OK; Fort Sam Houston, TX; Fort Bliss, TX, Fort Bragg, NC; Fort Dix, NJ; Fort Gillem, GA; Fort Hood, TX and Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN. His oversea assignments consisted of thirteen years and seven months and were: The Federal Republic of Korea (two tours); The Federal Republic of Japan; The Federal Republic of Italy; The Federal Republic of Germany (four tours) and saw action twice in The Federal Republic of Vietnam. His military career which consisted of more than thirty plus years was a rewarding one right up to his retirement at Fort Sill, OK on August 31, 1988.
His assignments, duties and responsibilities from the beginning to the end of his career were: General Clerk, Supply Clerk, Clerk Typist, Senior Clerk Typist, Detachment Clerk, Morning Report Clerk, Personnel Records Clerk, Personnel Actions Clerk, Personnel Management Clerk, Records Team Leader, Records Division Supervisor, Personnel Actions Supervisor and First Sergeant of the 198th Personnel Service Company. Being the first Personnel Service Company ever to be activated in the U.S. Army and the first Personnel Service Company ever to receive the rating of "Superior" during its Annual General Inspection and subsequently he was the key role player in the unit to have received such a high rating. Upon his departure he was given an award for achievement and service; he was selected for special tasks assignments from time to time and was sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana: 1) to support the Department of The Army Selection Board panels for Promotions, Schools and Qualitative Management for E7, E8 and E9; after its completion, 2) to execute "Operation Packet" under the directives of Military Personnel Center, under the Department of The Army, where he was to organize and supervise both military and civilian personnel and to reproduce all documents filed in the soldier's permanent records for grades E6, E7 and E8 and send them out by mail. Upon his departure, he was given an award for achievement; upon completion of his second assignment in The Federal Republic of Korea, he requested that he be assigned to Europe and when his request was reviewed by Department of The Army, he was asked if he would take a one year assignment to a Combat Field Artillery Battalion, the 92nd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood as a First Sergeant and was accepted.
Upon his arrival to his new assignment, he started his role in military leadership, leading by example and mother wit, establishing a high state of unit morale, esprit de corps, the appearance and dress of his soldiers, a high state of cleanliness of their billets, and subsequently, he achieved him the title of, "A Soldier's Soldier" and his unit was selected as a "show place" for visitors from higher headquarters, and all VIPs visiting Fort Hood. When his unit had its Annual Readiness Training Exercises (ARTEP) received the ratings of "Excellent" as well as combat ready. Upon returning from the training exercise, his time was up for duties as a First Sergeant. Due to a shortage of officers in the Battalion, the S-1 section was up for an Annual General Inspection, the Battalion Commander (LTC Motal) assigned him this task (a Captain's position). This did not deter him on such short notice due to his previous assignment to an S-1 office as a Battalion Personnel Staff NCO. His task was to ensure all areas of the S-1 section would be prepared for this inspection. He did just that. The S-1 Section received the rating of "Excellent." Coupled with the ARTEP rating he received an "impact" award for achievement and an award for service upon his departure; again, and for the last time, The Department of The Army assigned him to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana as an Action Officer (a Major's position) with orders to put together a training course entitled "Force Integration Manning the Force (Personnel)" in a maximum of 21 days and once put together he was to assist in teaching all personnel, military and civilians alike so that when being assigned to a major command and Department of The Army levels, they would know how the U.S. Army operates. He accomplished this in 16 days.
He also received recognition from Department of The Army by using his Course as an example to start another Course entitled "Force Integration Equipping the Force (Supply)" and to be taught at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Upon his departure was given an Achievement award.
During his entire period of military service, he was known for his attention to detail and devotion to duty, for "never let the grass grow under his feet." He was a “self-starter”, “a go getter”, and a self-sacrificing individual. He successfully completed thousands of Credit Hours of Correspondence Courses; was presented hundreds of Letters of Appreciation and Commendation; an enormous number of Certificates of Appreciation and Achievement. Among his other awards and decorations were: The Marksman Rifle Badge with Carbine and M-1 Rifle Bars; Sharp-shooter Badge with M-14, M-60 Machine Gun, and .45 Caliber Pistol Bars; The Expert Rifle Badge with B.A.R. and M-16 Bars; A German Army Expert Marksman Badge (Gold); The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with "Clasp 60"; The Oversea Service Ribbon with the Number "7"; The Army Service Ribbon; The Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with the Number "3"; The Republic of Korea Korean Service Medal; The Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with one "Silver Star"; 4 Oversea Service Bars; The National Defense Service Medal; The Good Conduct Medal (10th Award); The Army Achievement Medal; The Army Commendation Medal (7th Award); The Army Joint Service Commendation Medal (2nd Award); The Army Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award); The Legion of Merit; The Bronze Star Medal; The Republic Of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Medal with Palm (U.S. Army Military Assistance Command Vietnam) and The 2nd Meritorious Unit Award (U.S. Army Military Assistance Command Vietnam).
During his assignment at Fort Sill and the Lawton, OK community, he was very active in and served as Worthy Patron in St. Mary Chapter No. 88, Order of The Eastern Stars; Junior and Senior Warden in Rising Star Lodge No.18 and President of its Study Club; a member of Stewart Chapter No. 34, Holy Royal Arch Masonry; The Architect & Engineer in Golden Limit Consistory No. 133 and Junior Warden for 3rd Masonic District, Jurisdiction of The State of Oklahoma, AF&AM.
He was united in holy matrimony to the late Emma Justine (Foster) Gordley of Shreveport, LA and Ellen (Bradley) Gordley of Indianapolis, IN; Birthe Lily (Larsen) Gordley of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Elnora (Glover) Gordley of Douglas, GA. No children were born to these marriages. When he would be asked, "Do you have any children?" or "Why don't you have any children?" His reply was, " I could not keep them "still" long enough."
In March 1992 he decided to relocate from Lawton to San Angelo. His first employment was with the Q & H Custodial Services Where he worked at the city's banks and other small business places. He received many laudatory comments about the services he provided he and he was also employed as a Correction Officer at the Eden Detention Center in Eden, TX; and later went into business for himself as a Licensed Massage Therapy Practitioner. He also was employed with Austin School of Massage Therapy as an Instructor in the San Angelo metroplex. His clientele grew and his business was very lucrative. As a hobby, he became a self-taught mechanic who restored automobiles, repaired his own vehicles and became quite good at doing that.
In 1995 when the Gordley families met to start a family reunion, he created the "GARD - GORD - GORDLEY FAMILY HERITAGE NAME TREE." He pursued this project with a dogged determination and presented the family tree each year as part of the reunion's program. Additionally, he finished the GODLEY roots dating back to the 16th Century, encompassing approximately 4,000 names… Yes, he did complete it!
Public Viewing
Sunday, April 05, 2020
1:00PM - 4:00PM
Robert Massie Funeral Home
402 Rio Concho Dr.
San Angelo, TX 76903
Final Resting Place
Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery
1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78209
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