Medal of Honor: Marcario Garcia – World War II – November 27, 1944

Name: Marcario García
Rank: Staff Sergeant (then Private)
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company B, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
Place and Date: Near Grosshau, Germany – 27 November 1944
Entered Service At: Sugar Land, Texas
Born: January 20, 1920 – Villa de Castaño, Mexico
Departed: December 24, 1972
Accredited To: Texas

---

Summary of Action

On November 27, 1944, near Grosshau, Germany, Staff Sergeant Marcario García — then a private — faced a deadly obstacle: two enemy machinegun emplacements dug into a wooded hillside commanding the route of advance. Caught in open terrain with only minimal cover and under intense machinegun, artillery, and mortar fire, his company was pinned down and unable to move.

Although painfully wounded, García refused evacuation. Acting on his own initiative, he crawled forward alone through the fire-swept approach until he reached striking distance of the first emplacement. He hurled grenades, rushed the position, destroyed the gun, and shot three German soldiers attempting to escape.

As he returned to his company, the second machinegun erupted. Without hesitation and again disregarding his own survival, García went forward a second time. He assaulted the position head-on, silenced the gun, killed three more enemy soldiers, and captured four prisoners. Only after the objective was secured did he finally allow himself to be taken for medical treatment.

His single-handed assault eliminated two fortified machineguns, broke the enemy’s defense, and enabled his company to seize its objective.

---

Medal of Honor Citation

While an acting squad leader of Company B, 22d Infantry, on 27 November 1944, near Grosshau, Germany, he single-handedly assaulted 2 enemy machinegun emplacements. Attacking prepared positions on a wooded hill, which could be approached only through meager cover, his company was pinned down by intense machinegun fire and subjected to a concentrated artillery and mortar barrage. Although painfully wounded, he refused to be evacuated and on his own initiative crawled forward alone until he reached a position near an enemy emplacement. Hurling grenades, he boldly assaulted the position, destroyed the gun, and with his rifle killed 3 of the enemy who attempted to escape. When he rejoined his company, a second machinegun opened fire and again the intrepid soldier went forward, utterly disregarding his own safety. He stormed the position and destroyed the gun, killed 3 more Germans, and captured 4 prisoners. He fought on with his unit until the objective was taken and only then did he permit himself to be removed for medical care. S/Sgt. (then private) Garcia’s conspicuous heroism, his inspiring, courageous conduct, and his complete disregard for his personal safety wiped out 2 enemy emplacements and enabled his company to advance and secure its objective.