Was this war hero a first sergeant on Vietnam rivers, rice paddies?

2015-09-03T18:53:24-04:00

Someone sent a link to the Killeen Daily Herald about this fellow, Homero Garza who lives in the vicinity of Fort Hood, Texas. His story did sound too good to be true at first. He claims that he was in the Korean War and then went on to Vietnam. That he had two Silver Star Medals, two Bronze Star Medals, both with a “V” for valor, and ARCOM with a “V”.

So we ordered his FOIA and it all turns out to be true. I’m sure there’s some embellishment in the story he told to the reporter, but he’s too much of a real bad ass for me to disagree with him. But here are the citations of his awards. It looks like 1968 was a tough year for First Sergeant Garza;
The medals speak for the themselves.

Two Silver Stars.

Two Bronze Stars, both with V device for valor.

One Legion of Merit.

One Army Commendation Medal, with V device.

All were awarded for actions by one man in the span of 12 months.

The place: Vietnam.
The man: Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Homer Garza

http://kdhnews.com/fort_hood_herald/vietnam/war-hero-was-first-sergeant-on-vietnam-rivers-rice-paddies/article_00504c4c-405e-11e5-9db7-d35560fbcb5d.html?mode=jqm

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Sep 3 at 2015 7:00 PM

2015-09-03T19:00:04-04:00

Sounds like the real deal to me.

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 3 at 2015 7:10 PM

2015-09-03T19:10:47-04:00

Me to

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 7:55 PM

2015-09-03T19:55:35-04:00

Here's the proof.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Sep 3 at 2015 7:56 PM

2015-09-03T19:56:12-04:00

Yes he was! A real hero!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 9:10 PM

2015-09-03T21:10:13-04:00

The kind of soldier you'd want to know and to call friend.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 9:13 PM

2015-09-03T21:13:15-04:00

Carpe Diem.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 9:21 PM

2015-09-03T21:21:13-04:00

Carpe Diem.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Sep 5 at 2015 7:56 PM

2015-09-05T19:56:43-04:00

There were many more of these unheralded stories in Vietnam than those that made the TV or newspapers. I doubt if anyone who spent time in the field did not witness at least one crazy "John Wayne" scene. Not to diminish CSM Garzas actions, good on ya!

Response by 1SG Patrick Sims made Sep 11 at 2015 7:11 PM

2015-09-11T19:11:31-04:00

I was a Petty Officer in the River Patrol with 915 days in Vietnam---Later on a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corps. Reserve. I finished my time in the National guard because I had a difference of opinion with an officer---he thought he was the almighty---and I thought he was full of shit---I retired a 1str Sergeant in April 2000.

Response by SPC David S. made Sep 11 at 2015 7:52 PM

2015-09-11T19:52:59-04:00

Very interesting time for me when I went in as the last major conflict was Vietnam. There where a few still serving and just about to retire. You could tell it in the bird pilots how they flew the lay of the land or approached a LZ. To me its a real shame that these stories are more or less taboo unlike the hero worship that followed WWII. This guy and a ton of others are indeed hero's -