[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5185]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO COLONEL (RETIRED) JOSE GERARDO GARCIA, M.D.

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 16, 2015

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of 
Colonel (Retired) Jose Gerardo Garcia, M.D. of Laredo, Texas.
  Jose Gerardo Garcia was born on the 21st of November, 1935 to Gerardo 
and Anita Garcia in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. He received a 
Bachelors in Biological Sciences at la Escuela Preparatoria Federal and 
his Medical Doctor degree from la Universidad de Nuevo Leon Medical 
School in Monterrey in 1957. Following graduation, he completed 
psychiatry internships at Warren State Hospital in Warren, Pennsylvania 
and Austin State Hospital in Austin, Texas.
  In 1965, Dr. Garcia became a naturalized citizen of the United 
States. His love of country compelled him to enlist in the United 
States Army in 1969. Dr. Garcia's 20 years of service allowed him to 
use his medical training, serve his country, and help others. Beginning 
as a major at Fort Dix in New Jersey and then as a surgeon in the Army 
National Guard, 36th Airborne division, he developed an expertise in 
aerospace medicine. With this knowledge, Dr. Garcia became a charter 
member of the U.S. Army Aviation branch upon its creation in 1983. 
Additionally, he was the first native Mexican physician assigned to the 
Office of the U.S. Surgeon General at the Pentagon, a position that 
allowed him to work directly with the White House physician. Following 
his promotion to the rank of colonel, Medical Corps, Dr. Garcia served 
as dean of the U.S. Army School of Aviation at Fort Rucker in Alabama. 
Dr. Garcia has been the first and only Hispanic to occupy this post. 
Additionally, Dr. Garcia served as chief training supervisor for the VA 
hospital in Houston, Texas, certified NASA flight surgeon supporting 
Space Shuttle landings at two primary landing sites, and as a medical 
consultant to the Texas Department of Corrections for inmates on death 
row. Dr. Garcia was also integral to the U.S. Army's adoption of 
research and clinical hyperbaric medicine.
  After 20 years of distinguished service, Dr. Garcia transferred to 
Reserve duty in 1989. In 1990 he married Yolanda Davila and settled in 
Laredo where he continued to practice medicine and be an active member 
of the community until his passing. Dr. Garcia served as medical 
director of Charter Hospital of Laredo, CEO and medical director of St. 
Joseph's Psychiatric Day Treatment Center and Laredo Drug Detection 
Services, medical director of Casa Amistad/San Antonio State Hospital, 
senior psychiatrist of Border Region MHMR, and clinical assistant 
professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San 
Antonio. This beloved family man and talented doctor will be dearly 
missed and forever remembered for his faith, altruism, optimism, 
patriotism, and wisdom.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor the legacy of Colonel 
(Retired) Jose Gerardo Garcia, M.D. His exemplary service to this 
country and the people of Laredo will not be forgotten.

                          ____________________