Corporal Garza was a member of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 23 September 1950 and returned to duty on 26 September 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 24 April 1951.

Garza was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.