Brawley Chamber of Commerce
Brawley Cattle Call
32
2014
Cattle Call
Grand Marshal
Frank Garcia
In 1940 I served with the U.S. Army at Scho eld Barracks on the island of Oahu,
Hawaii. The units I served with were the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Division and the 19th
Infantry Regiment, 24th Division.
On December 7th, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and all outlying air bases. We
were left without any air cover and naval interception.
For a short while we were ripe for a Japanese invasion which never came.
Later on in the war we were assigned to the Asiatic Paci c theater of operations (South
West Paci c). The Japanese had invaded New Guinea and Dutch New Guinea and were on
their way toward Australia, but we stopped their onslaught in New Guinea and at
Hollandia Dutch New Guinea.
We were being re-out tted for an invasion of Leyte in the Philippine Islands when I
was struck down with a bad case of malaria and was left in the rear echelon at Hollandia
Dutch New Guinea. I missed Leyte by one week (lucky me).
For service rendered under combat conditions, I was awarded the infantry combat badge,
American Defense Medal with clasp and one star, Asiatic Paci c campaign medal with two
stars, Pearl Harbor Survivors medal, and the Bronze Star.
So in conclusion, let me say, "Remember Pearl Harbor, and all the armed forces that
helped to win the war in the Paci c."
Frank Garcia
Brawley, CA