Fernando Luis García

He shielded a fellow Marine from a grenade at Outpost Bruce.

Fernando Luis García was born in Utuado, Puerto Rico, on 14 October 1929. He attended school in Utuado and worked as a file clerk in San Juan before enlisting on 19 September 1951. After training at Parris Island, he was promoted in December and sent to Korea in March 1952. He served as a private first class in Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division during the Korean War.

On 5 September 1952, García helped defend a combat outpost more than a mile ahead of the main line. Although wounded during a night attack, he went through heavy fire to obtain more hand grenades. When an enemy grenade landed nearby, threatening him and another Marine, García threw himself onto it and absorbed the explosion. He died protecting his comrade.

His parents received his posthumous Medal of Honor at Utuado City Hall on 25 October 1953. García is commemorated by an in-memory marker at Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamón and on the Wall of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. His citation honors his final act of protection.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a member of Company I, in action against enemy aggressor forces. While participating in the defense of a combat outpost located more than one mile forward of the main line of resistance during a savage night attack by a fanatical enemy force employing grenades, mortars, and artillery, Pfc. Garcia, although suffering painful wounds, moved through the intense hail of hostile fire to a supply point to secure more hand grenades. Quick to act when a hostile grenade landed nearby, endangering the life of another marine, as well as his own, he unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and immediately threw his body upon the deadly missile, receiving the full impact of the explosion. His great personal valor and cool decision in the face of almost certain death sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.