Fernando Luis García

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Fernando Luis Garcia
October 14, 1929 (1929-10-14) – September 5, 1952 (aged 22)
  
PFC Fernando Luis Garcia
Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth Flag of Puerto Rico Utuado, Puerto Rico
Place of death KIA in Korea
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
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) was a member of the United States Marines and the first Puerto Rican to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

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[edit] Early years

Garcia was born in Utuado, Puerto Rico where he received his primary and secondary education. 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 basic ("boot") training at Parris Island, South Carolina. After he graduated from his basic training he was sent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he underwent advanced training before being sent to Korea.

[edit] Korean War

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./S/ DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER[1]

[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.
  • 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] Awards and decorations

Among Fernando Luis Garcia's awards and decorations are the following:

[edit] See also

United States Marine Corps Portal
Puerto Rico Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ [/S/ DWIGHT D. EISENHOWERMedal of Honor citation]
  2. ^ National Memorial of the Pacific

[edit] References

[edit] External links