Marcario Garcia
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| Marcario Garcia | |
|---|---|
| January 20, 1920 – December 24, 1972 (aged 52) | |
  Staff Sergeant Marcario Garcia, Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Place of birth | Villa de Castano, Mexico |
| Place of death | Houston, Texas |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942-1945, 1953-1972 United States Army Reserve |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant, promoted to Command Sergeant Major 1971 |
| Unit | Company B, 22d Infantry Regiment, U.S. 4th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Staff Sergeant Marcario Garcia[1] or Macario Garcia (January 20, 1920-December 24, 1972) born in Villa de Castano, Mexico, was the first Mexican immigrant whose heroic actions as a United States Army soldier near Grosshau, Germany during World War II led to the United States President awarding him the Medal of Honor - the United States' highest military decoration.
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[edit] Early years
Garcia immigrated to the United States from Mexico in search of a better way of life. He lived in Sugar Land, Texas where he worked as a cotton farmer.
Garcia joined the Army upon the outbreak of World War II at the recruiting station in his adopted hometown. He was assigned to Company B, 22d Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division.
[edit] World War II
On November 27, 1944, Garcia was the squad leader of his platoon which found itself engaged in combat against the German troops in the vicinity of Grosshau, Germany. Realizing that his company could not advance because it was pinned down by enemy machinegun fire, Garcia, his own initiative went alone and destroyed two enemy emplacements and captured four prisoners. Despite being wounded himself, he continued to fight on with his unit until the objective was taken.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
- Staff Sergeant Marcario Garcia, Company B, 22nd Infantry, in action involving actual conflict with the enemy in the vicinity of Grosshau, Germany, 27 November 1944. While an acting squad leader, he single-handedly assaulted two enemy machine gun emplacements. Attacking prepared positions on a wooded hill, which could be approached only through meager cover. His company was pinned down by intense machine-gun fire and subjected to a concentrated artillery and mortar barrage. Although painfully wounded, he refused to be evacuated and on his own initiative crawled forward alone until he reached a position near an enemy emplacement. Hurling grenades, he boldly assaulted the position, destroyed the gun, and with his rifle killed three of the enemy who attempted to escape. When he rejoined his company, a second machine-gun opened fire and again the intrepid soldier went forward, utterly disregarding his own safety. He stormed the position and destroyed the gun, killed three more Germans, and captured four prisoners. He fought on with his unit until the objective was taken and only then did he permit himself to be removed for medical care. S/Sgt. (then Pvt.) Garcia's conspicuous heroism, his inspiring, courageous conduct, and his complete disregard for his personal safety wiped out two enemy emplacements and enabled his company to advance and secure its objective.[1][2]
[edit] Honors
On August 23, 1945, the President of the United States, Harry S. Truman presented Staff Sergeant Macario Garcia with the Medal of Honor at a ceremony in the White House.[3]
Staff Sergeant Marcario Garcia died on December 24, 1972 and was buried with full military honors in the Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas. The local government of Houston has honored his memory by naming a middle school after him and on June 27, 1981 the city renamed part of 69th Street- S/SGT Marcario Garcia.
[edit] Awards and recognitions
Among Staff Sergeant Marcario Garcia's decorations and medals were the following:
Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
[edit] Further reading
The following books make references to Marcario Garcia's exploits:[4]
- Medal of Honor: Historical Facts And Figures, page 167, by Ron Owens
- The Battle of Hurtgen Forest (West Wall Series) (West Wall), page 133, by Charles Whiting
- The Quest for Tejano Identity in San Antonio, Texas, 1913-2000 (Latino Communities: Emerging Voices--Political, Social, Cultural and Legal Issues), page 56, by Jr., Richard Buitron and Richard Buitron
- ÁRaza Sí! ÁGuerra No!: Chicano Protest and Patriotism during the Viet Nam War Era, page 36, by Lorena Oropeza
- Moon Handbooks Charleston and Savannah (Moon Handbooks), page 115, by Mike Sigalas
[edit] Notes
[edit] See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
- Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients
[edit] External links
- Discovery UT Austin
- Houston National Cemetery
- The Fearless Mexican
- Stanley Jozwiak. Battle in the Hurtgen Forest. 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry website.
