[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E153]]
                      TRIBUTE TO EDUARDO P. GARCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2000

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, in the near future, I will have the 
honor of presenting World War II veteran Eduardo P. Garcia with the 
Prisoner of War Medal at my District Office in Montebello, CA.
  Mr. Garcia, born and raised in El Paso, TX, and now a resident of 
East Los Angeles, joined the U.S. Army on August 9, 1943, at the age of 
26. After 8 weeks in boot camp, he was assigned to the 180th Infantry 
regiment, 45th Infantry Division and had his first taste of combat in 
North Africa. In January 1944, Mr. Garcia's regiment was reassigned to 
assault the beaches of Anzio, Italy, as part of the Allied effort that 
eventually ended Mussolini's fascist rule. On May 26 of that year, Mr. 
Garcia was wounded in battle just outside of Rome. But his wounds did 
not end his service in the war.
  Corporal Eduardo Garcia was released back to his regiment in August 
1944 as it began to liberate Southern France. The following month, 
during an intense battle with many American casualties, his regiment 
was surrounded by German forces and captured. Mr. Garcia and his 
comrades were marched to Germany where they were held in a prisoner of 
war camp. Life in the Nazi POW camp was harsh. Prisoners were given 
little to eat and were forced, in their weakened condition, to march 
through the snow from one POW camp to another. Those who fell from 
exhaustion had to be carried by their fellow soldiers or risk being 
shot to death by the German guards. After enduring eleven months of 
Nazi capture, Russian forces freed Eduardo Garcia and his comrades from 
their POW camp in July 1945.
  Corporal Eduardo Garcia was discharged from the U.S. Army on October 
31, 1945. He was decorated with the European, African, and Middle 
Eastern Campaign Medals, the Good Conduct medal, and the Purple Heart.
  Eduardo Garcia went on to marry his late wife, Carmen, and raise four 
children. Since 1962, he has lived in Los Angeles and now has eight 
grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
  I am proud to count Eduardo Garcia as one of my constituents. His 
bravery, service, and dedication to our great nation are an inspiration 
for us all.

                          ____________________