World War II Honoree

Phillip M. Garcia, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Pueblo, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps August 25, 1942 at Denver, Colorado. Following his Basic Military Training at the Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California and infantry training at Camp Pendleton Oceanside, California. And along with any additional training; he was deployed to the Western Pacific Theater of Operations. He served in Company Kilo as a Rifleman, assigned to the Third Battalion, Twenty Third Marines and an element of the Fourth Marine Division. His division participated in the amphibious assault, and occupation of Tinian Island. Sunday, July 30, 1944 he was fatally wounded, during offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. Personnel from a Graves Registration Company buried him in the U.S. Armed Forces Tinian battlefield cemetery. In the post-war era, this Marines’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at a Private cemetery in Colorado. In his Memory, this American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously for his Heroism, and ultimate sacrifice. He served his Country with Pride and Honor.