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PFC John Garcia

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PFC John Garcia Veteran

Birth
New Mexico, USA
Death
22 Jul 1945 (aged 20)
Germany
Burial
Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, USA Add to Map
Plot
Block 0000G - - 000163
Memorial ID
View Source
From the NARA War Department Files:

PFC John Garcia

ID: 18070223
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Hometown: El Paso County, CO
Status: DNB (Died Non-Battle)

The 89th Infantry Division landed in France at Le Havre, 21 January 1945, and engaged in several weeks of precombat training before moving up to the Sauer River into jump-off positions east of Echternach, 11 March 1945. The next day, the offensive began, and the 89th plunged across the Sauer in a rapid advance to and across the Moselle, 17 March. The offensive rolled on, and the Division assaulted across the Rhine River on 26 March, 1945 under intense fire in the Wellmich-Oberwesel region. A pontoon bridge was built across the Rhine from St. Goar to St. Goarshausen. In April, the 89th attacked toward Eisenach, taking that town, 6 April. The next objective was Friedrichroda, core of the vaunted National Redoubt in Thuringia. The city was secured by 8 April. On April 4, 1945, the 89th overran Ohrdruf, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. Ohrdruf was the first Nazi concentration camp liberated by U.S. troops in Germany.

The Division continued to move eastward toward the Mulde River, capturing Zwickau by 17 April. The advance was halted, 23 April, and from then until VE-day, the Division saw only limited action, engaging in patrolling and general security. Three towns, Lossnitz, Aue, and Stollberg, were kept under constant pressure, but no attacks were launched. The 89th Infantry's casulties consisted of 292 men Killed in Action, 692 men Wounded in Action, and 33 men Died of Wounds
From the NARA War Department Files:

PFC John Garcia

ID: 18070223
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Hometown: El Paso County, CO
Status: DNB (Died Non-Battle)

The 89th Infantry Division landed in France at Le Havre, 21 January 1945, and engaged in several weeks of precombat training before moving up to the Sauer River into jump-off positions east of Echternach, 11 March 1945. The next day, the offensive began, and the 89th plunged across the Sauer in a rapid advance to and across the Moselle, 17 March. The offensive rolled on, and the Division assaulted across the Rhine River on 26 March, 1945 under intense fire in the Wellmich-Oberwesel region. A pontoon bridge was built across the Rhine from St. Goar to St. Goarshausen. In April, the 89th attacked toward Eisenach, taking that town, 6 April. The next objective was Friedrichroda, core of the vaunted National Redoubt in Thuringia. The city was secured by 8 April. On April 4, 1945, the 89th overran Ohrdruf, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. Ohrdruf was the first Nazi concentration camp liberated by U.S. troops in Germany.

The Division continued to move eastward toward the Mulde River, capturing Zwickau by 17 April. The advance was halted, 23 April, and from then until VE-day, the Division saw only limited action, engaging in patrolling and general security. Three towns, Lossnitz, Aue, and Stollberg, were kept under constant pressure, but no attacks were launched. The 89th Infantry's casulties consisted of 292 men Killed in Action, 692 men Wounded in Action, and 33 men Died of Wounds

Gravesite Details

Buried: 1/29/1949, Source: City of Colo Spgs cemetery data 3/13/09


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