Amado Garcia

Amado Garcia’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

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Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private First Class Amado Garcia (ASN: 1626968), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, A.E.F., near Fismes, France, 26 August 1918. With two other soldiers Private Garcia crawled 300 yards in front of our lines, through the enemy's wire, and attacked a hostile machine-gun nest. The enemy crew opened fire on them at a range of only ten yards and resisted stubbornly, but they succeeded in killing three of the crew and driving off the others with clubbed rifles. They returned to our lines under heavy fire.

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 19 June 1894, Acomita, NM, United States
  • Place of Residence: Acoma Pueblo, NM, United States
  • Race/Ethnicity: Native American
  • Death: 27 December 1971 Acoma Pueblo, NM, United States
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Private First Class
  • Company: [K]
  • Infantry Regiment: 110th
  • Division: 28th
Personal Narrative
Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education Toggle Accordion

Amado Garcia was born to Juan Pablo Garcia (1859-?) and Maria Pino (1871-?) on 19 June 1894 in Acomita Lake, Cibola, New Mexico. Garcia was the last of five children, Juan Pablo (1889-?), Leiyou (1890-?), Tsaweituweits (1891-?), Cashumi (1893-?)*. Garcia attended Sherman Institute in Riverside, California and Albuquerque Indian School in Albuquerque, New Mexico in his youth. The Garcias were members of the Acoma Pueblo Tribe.

*Listed by Native names

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

Garcia enlisted in the U.S. Army 21 June 1917. As a Private, Garcia and Replacement Draft Co. 7 (Infantry) left New York aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Cretic on 28 June 1918.

Then-Private First Class Garcia received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions near Fismes, France on 26 August 1918 with Company K, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division;

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private First Class Amado Garcia (ASN: 1626968), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, A.E.F., near Fismes, France, 26 August 1918. With two other soldiers Private Garcia crawled 300 yards in front of our lines, through the enemy’s wire, and attacked a hostile machine-gun nest. The enemy crew opened fire on them at a range of only ten yards and resisted stubbornly, but they succeeded in killing three of the crew and driving off the others with clubbed rifles. They returned to our lines under heavy fire.”

Private First Class Garcia and Co. K left St. Nazaire, France aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Santa Olivia on 29 April 1919. They arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 12 May. Garcia was Honorably Discharged on 28 May 1919.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

Upon his arrival home, Garcia married Lola Paytiamo (1890-1991); they had three children, Emma Olivia (1922-1995), Harry (1926-?), and Harold Joseph (1935-2001). Garcia worked as a farmer in Acoma Pueblo for most of his life; in the 1940s, he hosted his father- and brother-in-law, Luciano Paytiamo and Joseph Paytiamo, 1950s, his son-in-law Frances Wanya, grandchildren, Robert and Charles, father- and brother-in-law.

Garcia died on 27 December 1971 in Acoma Pueblo, Cibola, New Mexico. His place of burial is currently unknown.