New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
During the month of December, the 16th Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory PFC Manuel C. Leite, who served with the United States Marine Corps 4th Division during WWII. Leite earned the Purple Heart medal after being wounded in action at Saipan, in the Marianas Islands, on June 16, 1944. He passed away peacefully at the age of 99 on October, 25, 2020.
Leite was born in Acushnet, MA, the youngest of seven siblings. According to his daughter, Kathleen Teixeira, “Manny,” as he was called, was raised on his family’s Acushnet dairy farm, “where the seeds of his devotion to family and hard work were sown.”
He began his active duty service on September 17, 1942. PFC Leite’s special military qualification was as a heavy equipment machine gun crewman. He participated in the Battle of Kwajalein-Atoll in the Mariana Islands from January 31, 1944, through February 29, 1944, as well as the Battle of Saipan from June 15-16, 1944. It was in Saipan that SFC Leite, working as a machine gunner, was shot through the back suffering a collapsed lung. He spent a month recovering in Hawaii and was later transferred to Newport, RI, serving guard duty. He received the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the enemy.
He was discharged from the USMC on November 9, 1945, and in addition to the Purple Heart, was awarded the USMC Honorable Discharge button and the Honorable Service Lapel button. Kathleen explains, “our dad was a war hero, but his four children have always considered him our true hero.”
His daughter explained that her dad “came home from the war, married his wife, Mary (Simmons) Leite, and raised 2 sons and 2 daughters. After her death in 1998, he let himself grieve, and over time, became open to love and light again with his second great love, Terry Patistea.
Leite worked at the Sunbeam Bakery in New Bedford and retired after 25 years of employment. He was an avid outdoorsman and was interviewed by Marc Folco in a 2013 Standard Times article highlighting their shared love of hunting and Manny’s USMC memories. Manny was quoted as saying “I don’t’ consider myself a hero. The real heroes are the ones who didn’t come back.” He told Marc, it was more painful to learn of his buddies who were killed in Iwo Jima, after his outfit moved there from Saipan, than any suffering he endured.
Just one month before his passing, Mr. Leite had visited the Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum and shared his USMC memories with Bob Lytle, a volunteer at the museum. Little did we know that a short time later, we would be honoring Mr. Leite and flying the flag in his memory for the month of December 2020.
His family fondly remembers how Manny proudly marched in local parades, serving as the Grand Marshall in Fairhaven. According to him, no outfit was complete without him wearing his red Marine cap.
Leite died on October 25, 2020, at the age of 99, “leaving a legacy of resilience, positivity and moving forward by always putting one foot in front of the other,” according to his daughter Kathleen.
Manuel was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Mary (Simmons) Leite. For the past 20 years he was blessed to experience a loving relationship with his girlfriend, Terry Patistea. He is survived by his two sons, Wayne Leite and his wife Sue of Cornville, ME and Russ Leite and his wife June of Dartmouth; two daughters, Cindy Woodard of Oakland, ME and Kathleen Teixeira and her husband Louis of Dartmouth, as well as many loved grandchildren.
Linda Ferreira, of Empire Ford of New Bedford, researches the life histories of area residents. American flags are provided by Empire Ford of New Bedford. Flags are raised by the staff at Fort Taber – Fort Rodman Military Museum. Those who would like to honor a local veteran in the future can contact Ferreira at lferreira@buyempireautogroup.com.
