Edmund Ernest García

Edmund Ernest Garcia (March 25, 1905 – November 2, 1971) was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy who commanded the destroyer escort 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).

Naval career 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.

Garcia's first assignment was aboard where he served as a gunnery officer from 1927 to 1928. He was later assigned to and in 1928 was trained as a naval aviator at Pensacola, Florida. Garcia received addition training in various military institutions which included the Torpedo School of San Diego, California.

From 1932 to 1939, of Garcia served in various ship's, among them , , and . This was with the exception of the years 1935 to 1937, when he served as flight instructor at Naval Aviation School in Pensacola. In 1939, he was reassigned to Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania, where he helped prepare and equip the aircraft carrier . He worked on various aircraft carriers until 1941, when the United States entered World War II. García was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for his actions. Part of the citation reads as follows:

From June 15 to July 15, Sloat operated in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean in search of German U-boats.

Later years From 1944 to 1945, Garcia served as commandant of the 58th Escort Division aboard . Upon his return to the United States after the war, Garcia served as commanding officer of the Naval Recruitment Station in New Orleans, Louisiana. After serving a short stint as commander of , Garcia was assigned as commanding officer of the naval base at Orange, Texas, and on May 20, 1954, he was given his last assignment before his retirement from the Navy, that of Commandant of the Sub Group 2, Charleston Group, in the Atlantic Fleet.

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

Decorations and awards Rear Admiral Garcia's military awards include:

Badges: