Henry Garcia was a member of the air crew of a Flying Fortress Bomber, normally piloted by Hal Winfrey. The crew earned a total of eleven Silver Stars and two Distinguished Service Crosses. On June 26, 1943, Winfrey was recovering from wounds in an earlier action and unable to fly, and William Sarsfield took the controls for what proved to be the crew’s final mission. All were missing in action and only Winfrey, who could not fly that mission, survived the war. The crews remains were recovered in 1982 and identified in 2001, some buried in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery, and others in their home town.
Sponsored by:
Henry
Garcia
MIA (WWII) KIA
Born:
Pasemonte
,
New Mexico
Home:
Snyder
,
Colorado
Buried:
Manila
,
Philippine Islands
Cemetery:
A.B.M.C. Manila (Wall of the Missing)
Awards Received
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Silver Star
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Silver Star
-
Silver Star
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Staff SergeantBatallion:
65th Bombardment SquadronRegiment:
43d Bombardment Group (H)Division:
5th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
Headquarters, 5th Air Force, General Orders No. 92 (May 15, 1943)(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Henry Garcia (ASN: 19080310), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as an Aerial Gunner of a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber in the 65th Bombardment Squadron, 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), FIFTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, in 1943. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Staff Sergeant Garcia, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Staff SergeantBatallion:
65th Bombardment SquadronRegiment:
43d Bombardment Group (Heavy)Division:
5th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Staff Sergeant Henry Garcia (ASN: 19080310), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with the 65th Bombardment Squadron, 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), FIFTH Air Force in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. His devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Staff SergeantBatallion:
65th Bombardment SquadronRegiment:
43d Bombardment Group (H)Division:
5th Air ForceAction Date:
June 20, 1943
Department of the Army, General Orders No. 60 (September 15, 1948)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Henry Garcia (ASN: 19080310), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action over Vunakanau Aerodrome, near Rabaul, New Britain, on 20 June 1943, as Assistant Flight Engineer on a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber of the 65th Bombardment Squadron, 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), FIFTH Air Force, during an important and strategic bombing raid against the most heavily defended Japanese base in the Pacific. When a load of fragmentation bombs came free of their racks and scattered, Sergeant Garcia gathered them on the floor and, by lying on them for approximately two hours until the target was reached, prevented possible detonation. Then, while the pilot made runs over radar installations and other positions, he held them one by one out the side window and skillfully directed them to clear the airplane and hit the target. When notified that a crash landing was inevitable, he chose to remain with the aircraft to assist the wounded personnel aboard, rather than bail out. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Staff Sergeant Garcia, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.