Background
They settled down in the borough of the South Bronx in New York City, where Rivera was born and rented a low income apartment in a public housing project
They settled down in the borough of the South Bronx in New York City, where Rivera was born and rented a low income apartment in a public housing project
After finishing his primary education, he enrolled and attended Aviation High School pursuing his ambition of becoming a pilot. After graduating from high school, Rivera attended Dowling College in Long Island and earned his bachelor"s degree.
In the 1950s, Rivera"s parents moved from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States in search of opportunities. At a young age Rivera became interested in obtaining a good education and in becoming a pilot. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1981, following in the footsteps of his father, Manuel Rivera, Senior who was a Marine during the Vietnam War.
He was sent to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina where he underwent basic training.
From there he was sent to the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. He graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant and continued his training at the Naval Aviation Flight Training School where he earned his pilot "wings." Rivera was eventually promoted to the rank of Captain, and serving as personnel officer, intelligence officer and logistics officer flew in many support missions.
He had ongoing plans to apply for admission to National Aeronautics and Space Administration as an astronaut candidate. As a United States Marine Corps pilot, he was assigned to VMA-331, with service in that squadron including deployment to MCAS Iwakuni in June 1989, and upon outbreak of, service aboard the United States Ship Nassau.
On January 22, 1991, Captain
Manuel Rivera died while conducting a training mission over the Persian Gulf when his AV-8B Harrier smashed into the Omani coastline while approaching the deck of the amphibious assault ship United States Ship Nassau (LHA-4) for a landing. The real cause of the crash was not settled. Investigators believed condensation on the AV-8B"s canopy could have interfered with the pilot"s vision, or maybe that he just became disorientated by the horizon 279 (Public School 279) was renamed.
On January 30, 1991, the United States House of Representatives paid tribute to Captain Manuel Rivera and on May 9, 1991, the Honorary James H. Scheuer of the House of Representatives also paid tribute to the fallen Marine. P.S. 279 (Public School 279) was renamed P.S. 279 Captain Manuel Rivera, Junior honoring his memory. Also, a street, park and public housing project were named after him in the South Bronx. In March 1995, the United States Marines donated a McDonnell-Douglas TA-4F, a Marine Corps fighter jet, to Aviation High School in memory of Rivera Junior. The students at the school will use the jet to learn inspection and maintenance procedures. His name was engraved in "El Monumento de la Recordación" (Monument of Remembrance), dedicated to Puerto Rico"s fallen military members and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and unveiled by Puerto Rico Senate President Kenneth McClintock and Puerto Rico National Guard Adjutant General Colonel David Carrión Baralt on Memorial Day, 2007. Among Rivera"s military decorations are the following: Purple Heart National Defense Service Medal Kuwait Liberation Medal Badges: Aviator Wings.
