Private First Class Garza was a member of Company H, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was Killed in Action by sniper fire while fighting the enemy house to house in Seoul, South Korea, on 25 September 1950.

For his leadership and valor, Private First Class Garza was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", the Presidential Unit Citation, Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, 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.