Leroy Carl "Jack" Mann

Mann, Leroy C. "Jack"
Leroy C “Jack” Mann, a Marine, Federal Mine Inspector, and coal mine Ventilation Supervisor died 1Feb16 surrounded by his family. Jack was born on18Feb47 in Monclo, WV to Carl E and Leoma Cook Mann.

After graduating high school, he volunteered for the US Marine Corps. He served two years in Vietnam as a Crew Chief and
Door Gunner on a Med Evac Chopper and assisted the Corpsman in treating the wounded. He was wounded four times, accepting only three Purple Hearts. He survived having his helicopter shot down multiple times, once making it back to base camp, wounded and crawling for several days. On another occasion he was captured by the VietCong after being knocked unconscious by a mortar round. He spent 58 days as a POW but was denied that status because he was 2 days short of the required 60 days. He escaped by killing his guard with a deadly poisonous snake he had captured that day. During his time in combat, he earned his Combat Air Crew Wings with four gold stars, the afore mentioned Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and was awarded a Silver Star before it was replaced by the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, considered the equivalent of a Silver Star, two Presidential Unit Citations, a Navy Commendation Medal with a Valor device, a Combat Action Ribbon, as well as many other awards. While finishing his service, he married Virginia Winters of Swansboro SC. He attended Marshall University but left after one semester due to hostilities to veterans from anti war activists.

Upon his return home, he joined his father and grandfather working the coal mines of West Virginia. He earned his Mine Foreman papers and moved to Raton NM to work in the coal mines. Recruited by MSHA, he became a Federal Mine Inspector. In that capacity, he inspected all the coal mines west of the Mississippi and was involved in mine rescues. After his divorce, he was transferred from the MSHA office in Montrose CO to the regional office in Denver. In 1978 he met and later married Pat Kemm. After his first daughter was born, he left MSHA because of the amount of time that was required spent away from his young family. After the birth of his second daughter and the mines shutting down in 1982, he attended the Vo-Tech JC in Albuquerque and was retrained in HVAC. He moved his family to Lake Jackson Tx but his untreated PTSD finally got so bad he was declared 100% permanently and totally disabled. He then moved his family to Crawford CO where he bought a small ranch but years later had to move to Albuquerque for health reasons and to help his wife take care of her elderly and ill parents.

Jack Mann is survived by his wife of 36 years, Pat Kemm Mann; a son by his first marriage, Lee; his daughter Melissa M Drennan, son in law Richard H Drennan III;  his daughter Rebecca A Mann and daughter in law, Christina Black, all of Albuquerque. His grandchildren include Alanna and Calleigh Drennan, Armando and Santos Rivera, and Isandro Madrid. He is also survived by his sister Linda (and Larry) Freyer of Angleton TX, younger sister Loretta (and Archie) Maynard, and brother Willie Ray Mann of Freeport TX, 2 brothers in law and their spouses and one sister in law, many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Deeply devoted to his family, there was nothing he loved better than being surrounded by his children and grandchildren, taking any opportunity to gather the troops for a family dinner at home or at a restaurant.  Intensely loved by his family, his absence will leave a gaping hole in our hearts.  He will no longer re-live combat events every night and all his pain is now gone. Rest in Peace, my love. You’ve served your time in hell.




Daniels Family Funeral Services
4310 Sara Road SE
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
505-892-9920