- Marcario Garcia
-
Marcario Garcia 
Staff Sergeant Marcario Garcia, Medal of Honor recipientBorn January 20, 1920
Villa de Castaño, MexicoDied December 24, 1972 (aged 52)
Houston, TexasPlace of burial Houston National Cemetery,
Houston, TexasAllegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Army Years of service 1942-1945, 1953-1972 United States Army Reserve Rank Command Sergeant Major Unit Company B, 22d Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division Battles/wars World War II Awards Medal of Honor
Bronze Star Medal
Purple HeartStaff Sergeant Marcario Garcia[1] or Macario Garcia (January 20, 1920-December 24, 1972) born in Villa de Castaño, Mexico, was the first Mexican immigrant to receive the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration. He received the award for his heroic actions as a soldier during World War II.
Contents
Early years
In 1924, Garcia's family 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.
Upon the outbreak of World War II, Garcia joined the United States Army at a recruiting station in his adopted hometown. He was assigned to Company B, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division.
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 machine gun fire, Garcia, on 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.
Medal of Honor citation
Marcario Garcia Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, US Army B Company 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Grosshau, Germany---November 27, 1944. Entered service at: Sugarland, Texas Born: January 20, 1920, Villa de Castano, Mexico G.O. # 74 September 1, 1945. 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]
Honors and discrimination
President Truman bestows the Medal of Honor on Garcia
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. A month after he was awarded the Medal of Honor, Garcia was denied service at a restaurant located in a town just a few miles south of Houston because he was Hispanic. Garcia fought with the owner and was arrested. The incident was covered by the news media and caused an uproar amongst the Hispanic community who rallied to his aid. The nation was made aware as to the discriminatory policies that Hispanics were subject to as an indirect result of the trial of which Garcia was eventually acquitted.[3]
Later years
García became an American citizen on June 25, 1947 and earned a high school diploma in 1951. On May 18, 1952, he married married Alicia Reyes with whom he had three children. For twenty-five years he worked as a counselor in the Veterans' Administration.[3]
Garcia died on December 24, 1972, from the injuries which he received as a result of a car accident. He was buried with full military honors in the Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas. The local government of Houston honored his memory by naming a middle school after him as well as renaming part of 69th Street in Houston "S/SGT Marcario Garcia Street". In 1983 Vice President George Bush dedicated Houston's new Macario García Army Reserve Center, and in 1994 a Sugar Land middle school was named in García's honor.[3]
Awards and recognitions
Among Staff Sergeant Marcario Garcia's decorations and medals were the following:
Medal of Honor Bronze Star Purple Heart American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Foreign award
- Mérito Militar - Mexico
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
- Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients
- Hispanic Americans in World War II
Notes
- ^ a b "Medal of Honor recipients". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-g-l.html. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- ^ Medal of Honor citation at homeofheroes.com
- ^ a b c Handbook of Texas
Further reading
The following books make references to Marcario Garcia's exploits.
- 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
External links
- "Discovery UT Austin". http://www.utexas.edu/opa/pubs/discovery/disc1997v14n2/disc-above.html. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- "Houston National Cemetery". http://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/houston.asp#np. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- "The Fearless Mexican". http://www.thefearlessmexican.com. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- Stanley Jozwiak. "Battle in the Hurtgen Forest". 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry website. http://1-22infantry.org/history/hurtgen.htm.
Categories:- 1920 births
- 1972 deaths
- American military personnel of World War II
- Army Medal of Honor recipients
- Mexican emigrants to the United States
- Recipients of the Purple Heart medal
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- People from Houston, Texas
- United States Army soldiers
- Foreign born Medal of Honor recipients
- Mexican expatriates in the United States
- Burials at Houston National Cemetery
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