Gabriel Jess Garcia — born in La Junta, Colorado, in 1931, but a Grants resident of 44 years before his death in 2023 — served as a U.S. Army Soldier in the 865th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion for three years during the Korean War.
Jess, who studied communication at Midwest Business College before his service, played a role in combat and radio communication and transmission.
As an infantry soldier who saw and experienced the brutality of war, Jess didn’t share much about his time in the service, but his veteran pride was frequently expressed through one of his favorite hats: a black ballcap featuring the words “U.S. ARMY VETERAN” in bright yellow.
The few memories Jess shared about his service include the intense cold, the terror of being bombed at night, the shock of having a machine gun fly up to the left after shooting it for the first time and the pain of running his eye into barbed wire while trying to capture the opposition.
One fond memory he shared included his tent being situated next to the chef and having access to extra goodies at the end of the night. Anyone who knew Jess knows he loved food and sweet treats, so it’s fitting that the bright spot in his service was related to food.
Jess’ service received recognition through a posthumous letter from former U.S. President Joe Biden and a Presidential Unit Citation from the Republic of Korea’s former President Syngman Rhee, which recognized Jess’ unit, among others, for “valiant and meritorious service in the defense of freedom in Korea.”
Jess’ family is incredibly proud of the years that he so bravely and faithfully served his country in pursuit of freedom for others and the way he humbly carried the weight of that service with him till the very end.