Valor 24: Sgt. Candelario Garcia

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

03.21.2014

Courtesy Photo

Office of the Chief of Public Affairs

Medal of Honor candidate Sgt. Candelario Garcia was born in Corsicana, Texas, Feb. 26, 1944. Garcia distinguished himself on Dec. 8, 1968, while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division as a team leader during a company-size reconnaissance-in-force mission near Lai Khe, Vietnam. Garcia's platoon discovered communication wire, and other signs of an enemy base camp, leading into a densely vegetated area. As they advanced they came under intense fire, causing several men to be wounded and trapped in the open. Ignoring a hail of hostile bullets, Garcia crawled to within 10 meters of a machine-gun bunker, leaped to his feet and ran directly at the fortification, firing his rifle as he charged. He jammed two hand grenades into the gun port and then placed the muzzle of his weapons inside, killing all four occupants. Continuing to expose himself to intense enemy fire, Garcia raced 15 meters to another bunker and killed its three defenders with hand grenades and rifle fire. After again braving the communists' barrage to rescue two casualties, he joined his company in an assault, which overran the remaining enemy positions. Garcia passed away on Jan. 10, 2013. A family member will accept the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama on March 18, 2014, on behalf of Garcia.

• Date Taken: 03.21.2014
• Date Posted: 03.21.2014 14:28
• Photo ID: 1192487
• VIRIN: 140321-A-ZZ999-001
• Resolution: 2070x2730
• Size: 2.33 MB
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)