GySgt Manuel Armando Chavez, III

GySgt Manuel Armando Chavez III, formerly of Loving, NM passed away November 19, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon.

He was lovingly known as Mando to family and childhood friends, Gunny Chavez to his Marine Corps family and TwoBug to his niece. His most cherished title came in 2010 and 2012, when he became a proud Girl Dad to Madison & Makayla.

Mando grew up in Loving, NM, where he developed a passion for sports. He excelled in little league baseball and later in middle and high school athletics, known for his three-pointers on the basketball court and his speed on the track. Mando graduated from Loving High School in 1999 and attended NMSU-Carlsbad. He worked at GNC for Vance and Janice then later at Walgreens, where he made lifelong friends. In 2004, feeling called to serve, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and reported to boot camp at MCRD San Diego on December 13, 2004.

GySgt Manuel Chavez served in the United States Marine Corps Honorably for 20 years as an Aviation Ordnance Technician. During his time he honorably served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Pacific Area of Operations with the following units:

9/2006 – 3/2007 Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron (MWHS) 3rd Marine Air Wing, Camp Al-Asad, Iraq

4/2008-11/2008 Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 (HMLA-367) “Scarface” Al-Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq

11/2009-5/2010 Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 (HMLA-367) “Scarface” Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan

5/2015-12/2015 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) on the USS Essex Amphibious Ready Group

11/2020-4/2021 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Indo-Pacific AOR

11/2022-4/2023 Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA-267) “Stingers” Indo-Pacific AOR.

Mando was the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal(x2), Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal(x6), Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq campaign Medal(x2), Afghanistan campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the ISAF-Afghanistan Nato Medal. He was also a recipient of Sea Service Deployment award(x7), Marine Corp Recruiting award, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation(x3), Navy Unit Commendation(x2), and Presidential Unit Citation awards.

He took great pride in recruiting the next generation of Marines & his aviation ordnance work with HMLA-267, HMLA-367, VMA-311 (I.Y.A.O.Y.A.S.).

Above all, Mando cherished time with his daughters. They will always be his pride & joy – his greatest accomplishments. He loved cheering for the NY Yankees & SF 49ers. Mando had a passion for guns and shooting, a hobby he shared closely with his Dad. He never missed an opportunity to take someone to the shooting range.

Survivors include his daughters: Madison Alexa Chavez and Makayla Rose Chavez, mother of his children, Heather Chavez; his parents: Armando Chavez, Jr. and Margie Chavez; sisters: April Chavez and Juanita Chavez; his only niece, Jaeden Rae Chavez; aunts, uncles, and a long list of cousins. Mando was preceded in death by his grandparents: Antonio and Lorina Balderrama, Armando & Paula Chavez, and uncles: Manuel Balderrama and Antonio Chavez.

Pallbearers will be Kenneth Balderrama, Terence Boyle, Art Chavez, Michael Chavez, Chris Martinez, and Gabriel Sosa. Honorary pallbearers are Alvian Chavez, Jeremiah Curtis, Mary Helen and Tino Martinez, Mike Stout, his brothers and sisters of the United States Marines Corps. 

Our family extends heartfelt thanks to Christina, Paul, Rachel and Tad, Brighton Hospice, Fisher House Naval Medical Center San Diego, Sunset Hills Funeral Home, Captain Doubek and GySgt Elias USMC, Daniel Duncan Wounded Warrior Battalion West. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of GySgt Manuel A. Chavez III may be made to Fisher House Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, Bldg. 47 San Diego, CA 92134 or Wounded Warrior Battalion West, 27847 Lakeside Dr, Oceanside, CA 92058

There will be no visitation. Rosary will be recited at 10:30 am, Thursday, December 4, 2025 at San Jose Catholic Church followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am with Fr. Juan Carlos Ramirez officiating. Interment will follow in Loving Cemetery, Loving, New Mexico.

Semper Fi