Edmund Ernest García
Edmund Ernest Garcia | |
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Combat "V" |
Edmund Ernest Garcia (March 25, 1905 – November 2, 1971) was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy who commanded the destroyer escort USS Sloat during World War II and participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, and France.
Early years
Garcia was born to Enrique García and Antonia Rumirez in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the capital city of the island. There he received both his primary and secondary education. Garcia was born into a family with a long tradition of military servitude. His father, Enrique Garcia, was a captain in the United States Army. In 1922, Garcia graduated from high school and received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy from Emmet Montgomery Reily, who served as appointed Governor of Puerto Rico from (1921–1923).[1]
Garcia, was supposed to graduate from the academy in 1926, however he did not graduate and receive his commission of ensign until June 17, 1927, because of his academic deficiency in mathematics.[2]
Garcia's first assignment was aboard
From 1932 to 1939, of Garcia served in various ship's, among them
World War II
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/USS_Sloat_%28DE-245%29_underway_at_sea%2C_circa_in_1944.jpg/220px-USS_Sloat_%28DE-245%29_underway_at_sea%2C_circa_in_1944.jpg)
In February 1942, Garcia assumed command of the minesweeper USS Cormorant at the Washington Navy Yard, in Washington, D.C. In June 1942 Cormorant was reclassified as a tugboat.
Between 18 January and 19 May 1943, Cormorant gave tug services at
In June 1943 he reported to the Brown Shipbuilding Co. in
On November 11, Sloat, was assigned to the Escort Division (CortDiv) 7, and sailed out of New York Harbor with convoy UGS-24 bound for Norfolk and North Africa. The convoy arrived at Casablanca on December 2, and returned to New York on December 25, 1943.
On January 10, 1944, Sloat sailed to Casablanca and returned to New York on March. That same month Sloat joined a convoy, consisting of 72 merchant ships and 18
Eight days later, Sloat joined another convoy and returned to New York on May 1.
"Meritorious achievement during operations against enemy forces while serving as Commander of a unit of ships of an escort group protecting trans-Atlantic Convoys during World War II...'
From June 15 to July 15, Sloat operated in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean in search of German U-boats.[4]
Later years
From 1944 to 1945, Garcia served as commandant of the 58th Escort Division aboard
Garcia died November 2, 1971, in his home in Ozona, Florida. He was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.; plot: Sec: 4, Site: 2647-A W[3]
Decorations and awards
Rear Admiral Garcia's military awards include:
- Combat "V"
2nd Nicaraguan Campaign Medal
China Service Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3⁄16star
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalwith 3⁄16 star
World War II Victory Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
National Defense Service Medal
Badges:
- Naval Aviator Badge
See also
- Hispanic Admirals in the United States Navy
- List of Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Ricans in World War II
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- Hispanics in the United States Naval Academy
- Hispanics in the United States Navy
References
- ^ ASNO Archived 2007-11-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Our Roots". Archived from the original on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
- ^ a b c d e Navy Bio.
- ^ a b USS Sloat (DE-245)
Further reading
- Boudonck, Greg. Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own. ISBN 978-1497421837