Private First Class Garcia was a member of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 10 September 1950 and returned to duty on 22 September 1950. He was seriously wounded again in South Korea on 10 October 1950 and died of those wounds the following day.

Garcia was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman 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.