World War II Honoree

Steven Garcia

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Montrose, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 29 MONTHS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, G BATTERY, 59TH COASTAL ARTILLERY ANTIAIRCRAFT REGIMENT, THE HARBOR DEFENSES OF MANILA AND SUBIC BAYS. HE WAS STATIONED ON THE ISLAND OF CORREGIDOR ‘THE ROCK’, LOCATED ACROSS THE BAY FROM MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND WAS CAPTURED MAY 6, 1942 WHEN GENERAL WAINWRIGHT WAS FORCED TO SURRENDER CORREGIDOR TO THE JAPANESE INVADING FORCES. TRANSFERRED TO THE MAINLAND BY BARGE AND WAS HELD CAPTIVE AT AN UNKNOWN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP ON LUZON. SHIPPED TO JAPAN ON A JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’ ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRISONERS, INTERNED AT THE OSAKA MAIN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP CHIKKO, JAPAN. LATER TRANSFERRED TO THE KOBE PRISONER OF WAR HOSPITAL ON HONSHU ISLAND WHERE HE DIED JANUARY 5, 1943. DECORATIONS: HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND A PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES. HE IS INTERRED AT THE CEDAR CEMETERY, MONTROSE, COLORADO.