Fernando Luis Garcia
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| Fernando Luis Garcia | |
|---|---|
| October 14, 1929-September 5, 1952 | |
  PFC Fernando Luis Garcia Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Place of birth |  Utuado, Puerto Rico |
| Place of death | KIA in Korea |
| Allegiance | USMC |
| Years of service | 1951-1952 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | 3rd Battalion 5th Marines |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Private First Class Fernando Luis Garcia (October 14, 1929 – September 5, 1952), born in Utuado, Puerto Rico, was a member of the United States Marines and the first Puerto Rican who was awarded the Medal of Honor.
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[edit] Biography
Garcia attended grade and high school in his hometown of Utuado. He moved to San Juan where he started to work for the Texas Company as a file clerk.
On September 19, 1951, Garcia was inducted into the Marines; he received his "boot" training at Paris Island, South Carolina and after he graduated from his basic training he was sent to Camp Lejuene in North Carolina where he underwent advanced training before being sent to Korea. Garcia was a Private First Class when he arrived in Korea. He was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, of the 1st Marine division. On the night of his death, he was posted about one mile from the enemy lines. The Korean enemies were attacking with grenades, bombs and other types of artillery. Garcia was critically wounded, but he led his team to a supply point to get hand-grenades.
An enemy grenade landed nearby, and Garcia covered with his body, sacrificing himself to save the lives of his fellow Marines. Garcia died instantly. For this heroic action, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor; on 25 October 1953, PFC Garcia's parents were presented his Medal of Honor at a ceremony held in the Utuado City Hall.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS FERNANDO L. GARCIA
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
| “ | For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a member of Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 5 September 1952. While participating in the defense of a combat outpost located more than one mile forward of the main line of resistance during a savage night attack by a fanatical enemy force employing grenades, mortars and artillery, Private First Class Garcia, although suffering painful wounds, moved through the intense hall of hostile fire to a supply point to secure more hand grenades. Quick to act when a hostile grenade landed nearby, endangering the life of another Marine, as well as his own, he unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and immediately threw his body upon the deadly missile, receiving the full impact of the explosion. His great personal valor and cool decision in the face of almost certain death sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. | ” |
[edit] Awards and decorations
Among Fernando Luis Garcia's awards and decorations are the following:
Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars
[edit] In memory
PFC Fernando Luis Garcia's remains were never recovered. There is a headstone with Garcia's name in the Puerto Rico National Cemetery in the city of Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
On February 5, 1959 the United States Marines Corps named a military camp in Vieques, Puerto Rico, "Camp Garcia" in his honor. His name is inscribed in "El Monumento de la Recordacion" (Monument of Remembrance), dedicated to Puerto Rico's fallen soldiers and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His name is also inscribed in the "Wall of the Missing" located in the National Memorial of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, which honors the Medal of Honor recipients whose bodies have never been recovered.[2] A monument commemorating his actions stands in his hometown of Utuado, Puerto Rico.
[edit] See also
- Puerto Rican recipients of the Medal of Honor
- List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients
- List of famous Puerto Ricans - Military
[edit] Notes
- ^ [/S/ [Dwight D. Eisenhower|DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER]]Medal of Honor citation]
- ^ National Memorial of the Pacific
[edit] References
- Private First Class Fernando Luis Garcia, USMC. Who's Who in Marine Corps History''. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2006-05-08.
- PFC Fernando L. Garcia, Medal of Honor, 1952, 3/5/1, Korea. Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2006-05-08.
[edit] External links
- Hispanic Americans and the U.S. Military in the Korean War. United States of America Korean War Commemoration. United States Army. Retrieved on 2006-10-21.
