August continues to be a deadly month for US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. On Thursday, the Department of Defense made the following announcement:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony C. Garcia, 21, of Tyndall, Fla. died Aug. 5 while supporting combat operations in Farah Province, Afghanistan.
Please follow me below the fold to learn more about the life of PO3 Garcia, a young man who joined the Navy right out of high school.
Anthony Garcia is the son of an active-duty airman who is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base. PO3 Garcia was born in Denver, but moved around a lot as an Air force "brat." Garcia graduated from Haney Technical Center High School in Panama City, Fla. in 2006, where he was part of the residential electrician program. By the time he graduated from high school, he know that he wanted to join the Navy.
Garcia joined the Navy with his high school friend, Nicholas Cooper. Cooper describes his high school days with Garcia as follows:
“Things would have been rough for me in school,” Cooper reminisced about his high school days with Garcia. “He was the first person that befriended me. He took the time to show me around and helped me out.
“He was a great friend. He was on your side and would back you up no matter what.” ~source
PO3 Garcia served as a Navy corpsman (medic) who was assigned to the 3rd Marine Regiment, 2nd Warrior Battalion. The unit is based in Kanehoe, HI and deployed to Iraq in May of this year. Cooper reported that Garcia was excited about deploying.
“That’s what we joined for. That’s what we were here for and trained so hard for,” Cooper explained. “We’re combat medics. We take care of Marines. They protect us and when they need us, we go in.” ~source
Patrick Horgan, one of Garcia's colleagues in the military, described him as follows:
“He had a great sense of humor. He liked to joke around,” Horgan said of Garcia. “He had a tight bond with his friends, definitely. He really liked where he was at and had a wonderful camaraderie with the Marines.” ~source
On learning of Garcia's death, Cooper said:
You hear about the deaths over there....As a corpsman, you know that happens. But it is unbelievable that he is one of the fallen heroes of this war. He was a hero among heroes. He was defending his country and was taking care of his Marines. ~sourceemphasis added
Anthony Garcia was a decorated corpsman. He received the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Garcia leaves behind his wife, Jewell. Anthony and Jewell were recently married. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.
Here is a photo taken at Dover Air Force Base showing the return of Garcia's body to the US.
A visitor to Garcia's page on the Patriot Guard Forum speaks for me when she says:
I know there are no words to say at this time, except how sorry that I am. I truly feel your loss and pain. Anthony shall never be forgotten.
My deepest sympathy to the friends and family.
I appreciate all of his contributions to our country and may there be a special place for him in heaven.~source
May Anthony Garcia rest in eternal peace, and may we always honor his bravery, his sacrifice, and his concern for others.
Since the First World War, poppies have been the universal symbols of remembrance. Let us always remember that Anthony gave his life protecting his Marines.
About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT)
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one. Diaries about the fallen usually appear two days after their names are officially released, which allows time for the IGTNT team to find and tell their stories.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, greenies, blue jersey mom, chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo, MediaProf, and rb137.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.