WWII Navy Veteran Larry Manzo: Still Serving, Still Inspiring
By Cara Deptula, Office of Strategic, Facility & Master Planning
If you visit Heroes Golf Course in West Los Angeles on a sunny morning, you might be pleasantly surprised to find a World War II Veteran welcoming players with a smile. That man is Larry Manzo, a Navy Gunner turned community fixture whose life centers on service, connection, and hope.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, on November 26, 1927, Manzo turned 98 last year. He enlisted in the Navy at just 17 years old during World War II.
“My job was to man a 22-millimeter cannon on the side of the ship and shoot at enemy airplanes as they came diving at us,” said Manzo, reflecting on his role during the war.
Manzo was soon released and sent home to Hartford. He found the winters to be too cold and the summers to be too humid, so at age 19, he made the bold decision to move to California.
In 1948, Manzo and his family settled in Los Angeles. A few years later, he sought care for health issues stemming from his time in the Navy. A doctor suggested he visit the VA hospital.
“My first trip to the VA was at the old hospital—back in that day, it was an old brick building, a four-story building before the current one,” said Manzo. “They checked me out and said, ‘Yeah, you’ve got a deviated septum.’ They took me into the hospital, operated, and fixed it.”
That first visit connected Manzo to the VA, giving him access to medical care and the many services and amenities that he still uses today.
After retiring from the business world in his 70s, Manzo stumbled upon the Heroes Golf Course, one of the recreational amenities at VA to support Veterans’ rehabilitation, recovery, and social reintegration.
The golf course was created by the Hillcrest Country Club for the campus and designed by noted golf course architect Billy Bell, who donated his work. The golf course was officially dedicated to Veterans on June 23, 1946. Moving forward, the Heroes Golf Course was primarily maintained through a combination of VA support and Veteran volunteers, rather than any private or independent operator.
Over the years, many Veterans besides Manzo have volunteered at the course and also worked there as full-time employees, handling maintenance and operations, which helped shape its culture as a Veteran-run facility.
Scott Mulvaney, a Marine Corps Veteran and Manager of the Heroes Golf Course said, “For Larry, Heroes Golf Course is home. When I introduce Larry to our golfers as a 98-year-old WWII Navy Veteran, his eyes twinkle, he smiles, and they are amazed,” said Mulvaney.
In 2011, responsibility for operating the Heroes Golf Course transitioned to the Bandini Foundation, a non-profit organization created in 2008 for the benefit of Veterans. This group comprises of members of the Bandini family who were involved in the original 1888 land donation to the United States Government for the creation of the Pacific Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, which is now the West LA VA Medical Center. As part of its day-to-day management and oversight of the golf course, The Bandini Foundation is required to provide free golfing to Veterans, golf course management job training for Veterans, and other non-golf recreational activities for Veterans.
“We love Larry’s salty jokes, his broad knowledge, deep wisdom, and his indomitable spirit,” Mulvaney said.
Manzo doesn’t just play at the course—he has volunteered as a starter for the past eight years, signing in players and welcoming them three days a week.
“He’s a light to all the Veterans who work and play here, and a constant reminder that we are stronger when we work together to bring happiness to our community,” said Mulvaney.
Manzo has been volunteering at the Heroes Golf Course for approximately eight years. He says the routine gives him purpose and connection, and it has quietly shaped the experience of countless Veterans who pass through the course.
“I love it. I come up here three days a week, strictly as a volunteer.”
Manzo’s influence extends far beyond the golf course. Marine Corps Veteran Joey Lopez credits Manzo with changing his perspective on life.
“He’s just a great inspiration, a wealth of knowledge, and a refreshing human being to be around. He’s inspired a lot of Veterans to do amazing things. But most importantly, Larry teaches us how to be a great friend,” said Lopez.
Lopez now visits Manzo weekly and describes him as a steady presence whose guidance has inspired many Veterans.
Those closest to Manzo say the qualities Veterans experience at the golf course are the same ones that defined him as a father.
“My father is one of the most intelligent, kind people you will ever meet,” said his daughter, Risa Sheppard.
His daughter Renee Dundas-Kerr added that humor has always been part of who he is. “My father has a great sense of humor.”
That sense of connection is what golf course manager and Marine Corps Veteran Scott Mulvaney says defines Manzo’s presence.
“Larry’s genuine interest in people is what draws others in and keeps them coming back,” said Mulvaney.
Manzo often reflects on the world he has witnessed across nearly a century of life. He recalls that World War II was once believed to be the war that would end all wars, a hope that history has repeatedly contradicted. Still, Manzo remains hopeful. He believes the world would be better if people learned to care for one another beyond differences in belief or background.
Now approaching the age his grandfather once reached, Manzo continues to hold onto that vision. His hope for the future is simple yet profound: unity.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if everybody in the world loved each other? If we didn’t care what kind of religion someone had, if we just let them have it and enjoy it? If we had ours—even if it was no religion at all?” said Manzo. “I know it’s a big thing to ask, but if you’re going to ask for something, ask for something big.”
Nearly a century after first raising his right hand to serve, Larry Manzo still shows up—reminding Veterans and visitors alike that service does not end when the war does.
Watch WWII Veteran Larry Manzo on YouTube: