Toyota kicks off the second year of its Toyota Truck Salute to the Military by honoring Marine Corporal Daniel Garcia, of O'Fallon, MO. CPL Garcia, an Iraq war veteran, will be Toyota's VIP guest at the Aug. 18 Rams home game.
The Toyota Truck Salute to the Military will recognize veterans from all services at each home game during the 2007-2008 St. Louis Rams NFL football season as a way of thanking them for their military service and recognizing the contributions of all American service men and women.
Garcia, 28, served in Iraq from August 2005 through April 2006 in the 3rd Battalion 6th Marines, also known as the Teufelhunden or "Devil Dogs." He worked as a mechanic in quality control, maintaining the fleet of Humvees and other vehicles. Stationed in outlying battle positions on the edge of combat near Syria off the Euphrates River, his unit was charged with holding the peace from a make-shift base located in the middle of town.
"Most of the people supported us being there," Garcia explains. "We had a lot of people getting detained, people were tired of the chaos threatening their families. We maintained the town and kept the peace among civilians."
Garcia served in Operation Iron Fist and Operation Steel Curtain in which he went through the Al Qaim region and set up battle positions throughout the area. As part of his duties, Garcia also took part in convoys. "It was exciting and I was fortunate that nothing happened on any of my convoys, although we had guys that hit mines while driving. It's always in the back of your head."
Garcia was awarded a Certificate of Commendation which was presented to him at the battle position where he served for several months.
"After my duty there was up and I got back to the main camp where they've got hot showers and all the good stuff, I was requested to come back to fix one of the trucks at the battle position. I didn't want to go back out there with the ready-to-eat meals and all that. But when I got there they surprised me and presented me with the certificate for the work I did there."
In addition, Garcia received a Meritorious Mast certificate, which is a personal award for service.
Born in Texas and raised in Oklahoma, Garcia met his wife, who was raised in Poplar Bluff, MO, while stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC. They were married and moved back to Texas where he began working in motor transport when he got the news that he was going to be deployed.
Garcia left his wife and one-year-old son, and though he missed his family, he focused on the mission and enjoyed his tour of duty. "I tried not to think about leaving my family while I was over there and would call home when I could," he explained. "My main focus was making sure the Marines who do all the patrols had vehicles that would get them from Point A to Point B and back home again."
Garcia now serves as a Marine Reservist in active duty in the 3rd Battalion 24th Marines stationed at Air National Guard at Lambert Field, in Bridgeton. He manages the vehicle fleet and serves on the inspector/instructor staff helping to train Marines.
"We make sure these guys are prepared to go over and give them a heads-up on what to expect in combat."
He plans to make a career in the Marines and would also like to start a part-time business as a financial advisor. What was Garcia most excited to do when he returned stateside?
"See my son! When I left he had just taken his first step and when I got back he was running around, he explained."
Garcia will take his 3-year-old son to the game on Saturday to see his first football game along with two fellow Marines. His wife will stay home to care for their newborn daughter.
Toyota Truck will host Garcia and his guests at the Toyota VIP tent, which will also showcase the all-new 2007 Toyota Tundra. The full-size Toyota Tundra is the largest, most powerful pickup truck ever offered by Toyota. It was designed and engineered in the U.S., and is built at Toyota plants in Gibson County, Indiana and San Antonio, Texas. Tundra's all-new platform features a significantly expanded wheelbase, an increase of 10 inches in overall length, nearly five inches in height and four inches in width. The new Tundra comes in three cab configurations and offers a choice of three engines, including a new 5.7-liter V8 capable of towing over 10,000 pounds.
Source: Toyota Motor Sales