Sergeant First Class, Gabriel Garcia entered the Army in January 2002 after the September 11Th bombings. During his 9 years of service SFC Garcia has served with the 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany, 101st Division in Fort Campbell, KY and 1st Infantry Division in Fort Hood, TX. SFC Garcia has been deployed overseas three times in his military career as an infantryman. First, to Baghdad, Iraq in the beginning of the war in May 2003 and was deployed for 14 months with 1st Armored Division. His second deployment was to Kirkuk, Iraq with 101st Division which was for a year. And the third was with 1st Infantry Division to Kandahar, Afghanistan. On his third deployment SFC Garcia was severely wounded 6 months into the tour.
On January 8, 2009 SFC Garcia and his platoon were on a dismounted patrol in a market area in Helmand Province. Near the end of the patrol they were struck by a suicide bomber. Two of Gabriel’s fellow soldiers were killed and 10 civilians. Fifteen soldiers of his platoon were injured including Gabriel. Gabriel was the most severely wounded. He sustained multiple life threatening injuries to include: right arm amputation, right lung collapse, right hip and knee fractures, large through and through shrapnel wounds to his thighs, right vision loss and small shrapnel to the body.
After back to back surgeries in Afghanistan and when he was stable enough, he was flown to Landsthul, Germany. Then he was transferred stateside to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. This is where Gabriel spent 2 years recovering. During his first year of recovery Gabriel endured numerous surgeries and also many complications. Nonetheless, Gabriel has been extremely positive during his recovery. Setting a positive example to others. Gabriel’s recovery included a year and a half of physical therapy and 2 years of occupational therapy. Gabriel has several prosthetic arms that he uses on a daily basis. Today, he is completely independent and ready to move on to the next chapter in his life.
As of May 20, 2011 Gabriel is now medically retired from the Army. He just received his promotion to Sgt. First Class and leaves the Army with numerous awards and medals. His awards are to include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, five Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals NCO Professional Medal, NATO Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism, Expeditionary and Service Medals, three Overseas Service Medals, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and Presidential Unit Citation Award. He and his family currently live in Scottsdale, Arizona where Gabriel plans to return to school to pursue a degree in Business Management with the help of Sentinels of Freedom.
Our own, Gabriel Garcia is highlighted in this video about wounded solider rehabilitation.