[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21650]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT WALT GARCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2008

  Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
pay special tribute to a dedicated American and true patriot for whose 
service to this country, first as an Officer in the United States Army 
and followed by a distinguished career with the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, we owe our sincere gratitude, Mr. Walter Garcia.
  Walt Garcia was born in California to proud and loving parents; 
mother Tsuyako and father Alfred. He and his three brothers, Joseph, 
Frank, and Fred, grew up in a happy home, each serving the other, 
alternately as friend, protector, and part-time antagonist. After 
graduating high school and earning his degree in Business 
Administration from San Francisco State University, Walt joined the 
United States Army where he served for five years and rose to the rank 
of Captain.
  Walt joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1986. His first 
assignment, as part of the Phoenix Field Division, was as a Special 
Agent in Foreign Counterintelligence, and member of the FBI Reactive 
Squad and FBI SWAT.
  Walt's further service to the Bureau was primarily in the area of 
International Terrorism and support to the Special Operations Group. In 
1995, he was selected to the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team Tactical 
Helicopter Unit. The members of this elite team considered Walt to be 
one of the most able and talented pilots to have ever served Hostage 
Rescue.
  As a Supervisory Special Agent for Hostage Rescue, Walt was greatly 
respected and widely admired for his quiet but powerful presence. All 
who worked with him remember this friend and leader who avoided the 
spotlight and always put others first.
  His FBI family, agents and pilots alike, can share dozens of stories 
about Walt's bravery and determination in the field. They can also 
recount exhaustive examples of this man's extraordinary gift as a 
strong and focused, yet quiet and selfless leader. Whether sharing the 
events surrendering Walt's quick thinking, his courage under pressure 
and his talent as a pilot on the occasion in which he single-handedly 
pursued fleeing drug suspects and, using only his helicopter, blocked 
their escape and retained them for capture, or when remembering how he 
calmed a younger agents baby, providing much needed leadership to the 
new father in the art of cooing while changing a diaper, those around 
him always knew of the standard he set for himself and for others in 
all things pursued.
  He was a loving husband for 27 years to wife Yvonne and was a proud 
father to sons, Sean, Nicholas and Alex. Friends and neighbors from his 
community in Stafford County, Virginia, will always remember the active 
support he provided to his family in all their varied activities. While 
it may be difficult for Brook Point High School football fans to recall 
the game scores over the last eight seasons, few would forget Walt as 
the most active cheerleader consistently in attendance.
  The same can be said for all events in which Alex, Nicholas and Sean 
participated, whether as a soccer coach for Alex, football enthusiast 
for Nicholas, or proud father and passionate fan of Sean's many musical 
performances; Walt was their number one supporter.
  Walt Garcia's best friend, beloved wife Yvonne, and their remarkable 
three sons, Sean, Nicholas and Alex, will always cherish their memories 
of time spent together with this devoted husband and father. The 
community of friends and neighbors in Stafford County, Virginia, along 
with extended friends and close family across this great county, 
cherish the gift that was his friendship and love.
  And finally, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation was fortunate 
to have counted this talented and dedicated agent as one of their own, 
we Americans will forever be grateful for his brave and faithful 
service to this Nation.

                          ____________________