World War II Honoree

Eloy Garcia

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE ARMY AIR CORPS AND WAS SWORN IN AT FORT SAM HOUSTON ON OCTOBER 21, 1942 IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AT THE AGE OF 19. AFTER BASIC TRAINING HE WAS ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON, 14TH AIR SERVICE GROUP. IT WAS A UTILITY SQUADRON AND HAD A MULTITUDE OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE MILITARY. HE RECEIVED VARIOUS TRAINING, INCLUDING AS A MILITARY POLICEMAN. AS SUCH, HE WAS TRAINED IN 30 CALIBER CARBINE AND OTHER SIDE ARMS. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO CALCUTTA, INDIA BY WAY OF A SUBMARINE FOR 30 DAYS. HE WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO SHANGHAI, CHINA WHERE HE USED HIS MILITARY POLICE TRAINING WORKING WITH JAPANESE PRISONERS OF WAR. AT THE TIME THE BOMB WAS DROPPED THE JAPANESE PRISONERS WERE RELEASED AND HE REMAINED ON DUTY FOR SHORT TIME AFTER THAT. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE RESETTLEMENT PROBLEM, HE WAS TRANSFERRED BACK ACROSS THE PACIFIC ON A CRUISE LINER. HE LANDED IN SAN DIEGO AND WAS IMMEDIATELY PLACED ON A TRAIN TO THE SEPARATION CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE HE WAS RELEASED FROM DUTY. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ONE SERVICE BAR AND ONE OVERSEAS SERVICE BAR.