Private First Class Garcia was a member of the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 1 March 1952 and died of those wounds on 5 March 1952.

Garcia was awarded the Purple Heart, 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.