lest we forget

GARCIA, EMILIO GAMBOA

Rank / Branch:

CORPORAL (POSTHUMOUS), U. S. ARMY

Date Of Birth:

1947-01-29

Country Of Loss:

SOUTH VIETNAM

Status:

HOSTILE, GUN, SMALL ARMS

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:

GROUND

Other:

NOT MARRIED

Unit:

FIRST CAVALRY

Date Of Loss:

1968-01-23

Loss Coordinates:

BINH DINH

Catagory:

BODY RETURNED

Awards & Decorations:

SEE BIO

VETERAN HAGI0GRAPHY

GARCIA, EMILIO GAMBOA, CORPORAL, U.S. ARMY, BARSTOW, WARD COUNTY, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

COMBAT INFANTRYMANS BADGE, BRONZE STAR WITH V DEVICE, PURPLE HEART, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM MILITARY MERIT MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

BIOGRAPHY

Emilio was born in Barstow, Texas. He was one of seven children born to Elauteria (Teah) and Guillermo Garica. He had three sisters and three brothers. He attended Barstow schools and was a 1966 graduate of Barstow High School. While in high school, he was class favorite as a freshman and sophomore, most popular boy as a junior, played football and basketball as a freshman and sophomore and was a three-year member of the track team as well as a junior member of the golf team. As a junior, he was elected to the title of Mr. Barstow High School.
He was drafted into the Army in fall of 1966. He entered the Army with Manual M. Gonzales of Pecos, Texas who died in Vietnam in December 1967. They became good friends. He completed basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas and AIT (infantry) at Fort Hood, Texas. While at Fort Hood, he was assigned as an infantryman with Company A, 1st Battalion, 50th Mechanized Infantry, 1st Cavalry Division while stateside at Fort Hood. He was a member of the advance party for his company who mobilized to Vietnam in on May 5, 1967, by ship. He arrived in Vietnam in late May 1967 and the remainder of the company arrived in September 1967.
After the battalion was firmly entrenched in Vietnam, his company was immediately thrown into heavy combat. On December 6, 1967, his unit became involved in what became known as the Battle of Tam Quam which was a hamlet about 15 miles north of Saigon. This fight was a running battle which continued until December 20, 1967. His company experienced great losses, one of which was his friend Manual M. Gonzalez of Pecos.
Emilio was killed on January 23, 1968, in the days that led up to the TET Offensive. His unit was engaged in a fire fight with the NVA and the information taken from his Bronze Star citation states. "He exposed himself to the enemy fire as he flanked the hostile positions in an attempt to destroy the well-entrenched hostile forces. After neutralizing one enemy emplacement, Private First Class Garcia was mortally wounded. His display of personal bravery and devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."
Emilio Gamboa Garcia was buried with full military honors in the Barstow Cemetery in Barstow, Texas. He was survived by his parents; his three brothers: Severo of Odessa, Texas, Armando of Las Cruces, New Mexico and Jesus serving with the Army; his three sisters; Augustina, Delfina, and Cruz G. of El Paso, Texas.
His parents are now deceased and rest next to him in the Barstow Cemetery. His brother, Severo lives in Pecos, Texas, brother, Jesus (Chuy) passed away in 2008 from disability from his military service and is now buried in the Garcia family plot. His brother, Armando is also deceased. His sisters, Augustina G. Witt, and Cruz G. Hodge live in Pecos, Texas and sister, Delfina G. Moore lives in Odessa, Texas.