Corpsman KIA: HM3 Anthony C. Garcia KIA 05 Aug 2009 In Afghanistan
August 7, 2009 by Da-Chief
Filed under Air Force News, Army News, Coast Guard News, Corpsman.com News, Marine Corps News, National Guard News, Navy News
Anthony & Jewell Garcia
I hate these, I really do. Our Hearts and prayers go out to HM3 Garcia’s Family, Friends, and Shipmates.
The Associated Press
HONOLULU — A Hawaii-based sailor has died in Afghanistan.
The Department of Defense announced Thursday that Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony C. Garcia of Tyndall, Fla., died Wednesday while supporting combat operations in Farah Province.
The 21-year-old Garcia served as a corpsman with Marines assigned to Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe.
Garcia joined the Navy in 2006 and reported to Hawaii in February. His awards include the Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
About 1,000 Hawaii Marines with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment arrived in Helmand and Farah provinces in late May. They are part of a surge of 21,000 U.S. troops sent by President Obama.
More info as it becomes available.
Anthony we will miss you here in Denver, CO. I thank you for the time God allowed us here on earth to spend with you. Forever you will remain in our hearts.
An outstanding Shipmate and Corpman!
I had the distinct privledge of working with HM3 Garcia while forward deployed at Camp Buehring, EMF-Kuwait. Your enthusiasm and motivation will be missed, Shipmate.
On behalf of of TMC Camp Buehring, EMF-Kuwait, DET Echo, I extend our prayers for your family and loved ones.
Very Respectfully,
HMC(SW/AW/FMF) Troy A. Bojorquiz
As a Corpsman its always hard to lose a Marine on the battle field… But when we lose a devil doc it really hits home. Doc Garcia you may be fallen but you will not be forgoten brother.
HM2 (FMF/SW) Eric Ancheta
3d Marine Reg
I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with his family. My son is there and I am sure he is very upset about this.
Our hearts are heavy and my wife and I are sorry for your loss. He will always be in our prayers.
Respectfully,
Jeff and Beverly Smith
we are very sorry for your lose. HM3 Garcia will be in our Prayers & thoughts.
A Corpsman's dad, Mark Reinhart-
I ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH HM3 GARCIA DURING HIS FIRST DEPLOYMENT TO EMF-K, CAMP BUEHRING. HM3 GARCIA, YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. A TRUE AMERICAN HERO AND OUTSTANDING SAILOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR GREAT NATION. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES! HOORAAH “DOC” GARCIA!!! V/R HM2(FMF/SW) VELAZQUEZ, ALEX NHCS GREAT LAKES
I ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH HM3 GARCIA DURING HIS FIRST DEPLOYMENT TO EMF-K, CAMP BUEHRING. HM3 GARCIA, YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. A TRUE AMERICAN HERO AND OUTSTANDING SAILOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR GREAT NATION. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES! HOORAAH “DOC” GARCIA!!! V/R HM2(FMF/SW) VELAZQUEZ, ALEX NHCS GREAT LAKES
Everyone at NHC PAX RIVER will miss you. We promise to take your wife under our wing and take care of her. You are loved and will be in our thoughts and prayers everyday
Yo man, i'm pissed about this shit I want to go there so bad now and kill people.
I've been searching the internet all day today and I guess no one can really give us any news of what really happened. I also served with Garcia in Kuwait and he is one of my good friends. I'm sure I say this for everyone that knew him that he was hillarious and definately is a person you don't forget ever. I love you man and good luck to all of our other fellow corpsman that are on the front lines right now.
HM3,
You served your country with pride. I am saddened that we lost another good Sailor. Your humor, motivation, and character will surely be missed. My time with you in Camp Buehring was a short six months but your memory will be cherished and with me forever. If anyone out there has further information, please forward it to me.
HM1 (AW) Walter Bedell
I have no words to describe how I feel now that another good one is gone. I thank God for the short time He allowed me to share with this magnificent sailor. Short time no doubt; but I will cherish and remember every single moment we spent together. We will definitely miss your awesome sense of humor, always smiling face.
I had the pleasure to spend 6 months with Garcia at Camp Buehring in Kuwait along with HM2 Bedell; HM2 Velazquez, HMC Bojoquiz and Whitney.
You will always be plankton.
Lopez, Jose G.
HM3/USN Retired
One of thee most sincere, ginuine, happiest person I've known. So sweet and it was an honor to serve with you in Kuwait. Another angel up in heaven. You will be missed! God bless your family and wife during this tough time and forever more.
I ALSO HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE OF SERVING ALONG SIDE OF A GOOD SAILOR AND FRIEND IN HM3 GARCIA,WHILE IN KUWAIT. ITS HARD TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOUR PASSING IS TRUE BUT I KNOW U LEFT THIS WORLD DOING SOMETHING YOU LOVED AND THATS BEING A NAVY CORPSMAN! YOU WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED BROTHER AND MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOUR FAMILY.
HM3 was one of the best corpsmen that I knew as well as a person in general. I served with him at corps school and NAS Patuxent river, the short time that he was there. He always went out of his way to help others and his memory will thrive for a long time. I talked to him on and off and he always seemed so happy. We not only lost a sailor or a service member, but we lost an amazing person.
HM3 Garcia is my hero!!! I met him while serving along with him in EMF-Kuwait, Camp Buehring 2007-2008. He always had a smile on his face and I remember he told me, LTJG Brown, I am gonna be a Navy Seal one day….and I believed it!! You are missed and will live on forever in our hearts!!!!
Fair winds and following seas as you meet on heaven's shore! My thoughts and prayers to the family
To the Garcia family,
I am very sorry for your lost. I was able to be blessed in HM3's presence for just a short time. He was an amazing individual and always put a smile on our faces! HM3 was a one of a kind individual and his family in our prayers. The pain of loosing so many good men and women for such a silly reason. Please bring the rest of them home. HM3 guide our fellow sailors home to safety!
YN3(SW) Carter, Jennifer
My heart goes out to HM3 Garcia's family and friends. I met HM3 Garcia while working in EMF-Kuwait. I met up with him again while working I-day at the Naval Academy in July '08. I know he will be missed! Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Prue
From the Cerimonial guard we would just like to let every one know it was honor to bring HM3 Garcia home and are hearts go out to his famialy and friends…May god be with him.
Attention all EMF-Kuwait Det Echo (Jul2007 – Feb 2008). HM3 Garcia (we knew him as HA Garcia) was deployed with our det and attached to Camp Buehring. It has saddened many of us to hear this horrific news. Dr. Garrett would like to put photo book together for his family. If you have any pictures of our time with Garcia send them to Dr. Garrett or myself at amy.hendrick@med.navy.mil
Respectfully, HM1 Hendrick.
It is heartbreaking to hear the news of the passing of HM3 Garcia. His family and friends are in my thoughts as they go through this hard time.
What really touches me is the heartfelt messages and memories that have been posted here. Thank you for sharing your memories of HM3 Garcia with those of us who didn't have the privilege of knowing him ourselves.
My thoughts and prayers go out to your family brother.
DocCheta,
Hey shipmate Look me up.
I wish the Garcia family and friends, my condolences and best regards.
May he rest in the arms of his Maker
My condolences to his family!
HM3 taught me a lot before my DEP relieved his in Kuwait 2008. He also took time to teach me how to properly lift weights at the gym. He was always a sweet caring guy. My prayers go out to his wife and family. May the lord be with you all in your time of mourning. HM3 thank you for your scarifce. GOD BLESS… RIP.
I am shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic news and sudden loss of a true American hero. HM3 Garcia, the epitome of what corpsman means, motivated, eager, enthusiastic, caring and dedicated—gone too soon my friend. My prayers for you, your family, friends and those of us who had the distinct honor to serve with you. Respectfully, LT Carolyn (Holmes) Smith.
I am deeply saddened to read about HM3 Anthony Garcia's, sacrifice for our country, HM3 Garcia will join the rolls of many other corpsmen that have paid the ultimate price to render aid to our Marines. I am proud to have served in the Navy Hospital Corps,HM2/ 1977 – 1985. Jewel my heart goes out to you at this time of great sorrow, Anthony is and will always be a hero. I am also a Navy Mom and a Marine Mom, there are a few support groups I belong to, MarineMomsOnline, Marine_Famlies_inaction, and Navy Moms. We do Memory Books for our Fallen Hero's. I am collecting condolences for HM3 Garcia, which I will put in a book to present to Anthony's Wife and Mother. (2 book's one each) You can send me email condolences at gailfrick@comcast.net please put HM3 Garcia in the subj. Any of Anthony's shipmates or Marines with stories or pictures that would like to be added to Anthony's memory book please send to me. If you want to snail mail please email me for my address. Jewel and Mr.&Mrs. Garcia you are in my thoughts and prayers. I live in Pennsylvania, so if there is a service member who is in contact with the Garcia Family that I can send the books to once they are completed, so they can be presented to Anthony's family please contact me. Thank-you
I heard of the terrible loss of this hero a week ago, from my son (also a corpsman) who is part of HM3 Garcia's unit in Afganistan. I've shed many tears in the last week, yet I never met HM3 Garcia. My son said he was a great guy — one of his two best friends. Both friends were killed the same day.
I have prayed much for HM3 Garcia's family, and didn't realize until a few minutes ago that he was also married. My heart and prayers go out to Jewel and to his family on this tragic loss. I am sure that I can't comprehend the depth of your sorrow, but I can share the pride you must feel for his dedication and service. HM3 Garcia served to keep us free, and for that we will be eternally grateful.
My family continues to pray for all of our service members, as this type of loss can be very difficult for those who have to deal with the loss while continuing the fight.
I'm proud that my son had the opportunity to serve with this hero. He will surely be missed.
JL
Prayers and support to the family of HM3 Garcia.
Seimper Fi.
Rest in Peace my Brother in arms and Fellow Corpsman
HM3 Wilson, Tyrel
DWWMC
LRMC
Knew him since bootcamp he was a good guy. i remember when i first met him in boot camp he used to be lazy but he shapped himself to become an awesome corpsman. My condolences to his family. Im glad i knew him. Rest in peace my Brother….
I'm still depressed that I lost my friend Anthony. R.I.P brother!! God Bless your wife and Family. I hope you're watching over our friend “z” I can't get a hold of him.
“Zanpanta might have the info we need bro. I can't get a hold of him.
My name is HM3 Erin Cooper. I didn't know HM3 Garcia personally but my husband, HM3 Nicholas Cooper, was best friend with him before he left for boot camp and continued to be afterwords. Anthony and Nick joined the Navy together. They were going in on the buddy system but my husband got held back because he wasn't 18 yet. The day my husband found out about Anthony's he called me at work and I couldn't understand a word her said he was so upset. That evening we immediately left for Florida to visit with Anthony's family before they left for Colorado to put Anthony to rest. It was an absolute honor to have met his mother, father, cousin and his wife Jewel. As military spouse myself I cannot even imagine the pain Jewel must be going through. My heart goes out to his family and anyone that was blessed enough to know this great guy. CORPSMAN UP! HOORAH!
HM3 Garcia was a friend that i'll never forget. I met him in NAS Patuxent River MD. He was one of my MOD mates and he always funny especially when he broke into my room to borrow a movie. I will always remember him never forget the things he's done for the short time i knew him. SWCA Perkins USN Seabees
Anthony was a close friend of mine and I will never forget him… We had so many good times together… I love you brother… Thank you for giving the ultimate sacrifice so that we may live in freedom…
HM3(EXW) Emerson
There is alot of stories i can tell about Garcia. The first time i met Garcia was during PSI at Camp Lejuene waiting to report for the FMSS. He needed a ride to walmart so i gave him a ride. He than needed to go to several places after that. Without telling me he needed to go to all these places before…it was 11pm at night heading back to the barracks. We were in the same platoon during Field Med…getting close towards graduation…i found out we were goin to the same duty station, Pax River NAS. With in 3 mo. of reporting to Pax River we got orders the same day to report with the EMF-K Det Echo. Again we were together…I told him i couldnt get rid of him…he was always were i was…we both laughed and even joked about being at the same camp in kuwait since we spent the last 8 months together.
Garcia always had a smile on his face…yes he would do some strange things…but always enjoyed working with him. It still is very sad the group we checked in to Pax River…HM3 Garcia, HM3 Rogers, HM3 Robinson, and myself all reporting from FMSS…the gang is one less…Miss u bro……………
HM3 Caber
Thank you for remembering my son I am sure he is smiling down on us all. Anthony's Mom
Anthony was lucky to have a good friend like you. Anthony's Mom
I am glad to hear my son had good friends every where he went,I know Anthony appreciated all you did for him and I thank you too. Carol Lindsey (Anthony's Mom) 🙂
We enjoyed having you both in our home, thank you both for remebering Anthony. Anthony's Mom
Please smile every day for my son. Anthony's Mom
Thank you for your condolences. Anthony's Mom
To all of you I am truly touched by all of your thought's and prayers for my son and his family, Anthony was a silly funny loving guy and he would do anything for any of you he will always be missed. Always remember son By your side forever Love Mom
Ma'am,
Please check your email, I just sent you 2 messages.
Your always welcome on the “DOC's” Site.
In respect
Da-Chief
Corpsman.com
My heart breaks for family and friends of HM3 Garcia. His memories will live on in the hearts of those who knew him and for the rest of us, we will always know that he is an American Hero. My son is a Corpsman with the 2/8 in Afghanistan. My sincere condolences go out to all of you who have a broken heart. May you find some kind of comfort in remember this Fallen Hero…he has touched so many lives and we will never forget.
A great friend. Missed everyday.