The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-08-18
CUBAN ON LUz0N
KllLS83JAPs
AS SCOUT LEADER
BY JAMES HUTCHEsos

WITH THE BIND Drv1STo N
LuZ 20 Perez CIV, IN
at 100 pounds, is probabIv asrcla
the American Army's smalls Ute Of
diers. SOL
When he comes out Of the hin,
carrying a full field pack and atl'
collection OF Souvenirs corn. u
ed his platoon sergeant, "vn,
hardly see the guy for The ~ IVA. .sn
But the little Cuban, VIM sss.
he left his homeland and ,,s .as'
IN ls4l because Il wanted to t,t,
for democracy" is recognized 1sa'
the No. l japanese killer in t1;'
veteran division. He is cr.d; ~'s
with having killed SO in the nor, ss
ern Luzon fighting-more thar as'
a day for each day of actual co WY
bat since he joined the division !.
February. al
"And that doesn't count nro,.
ables,' said Sgt. Eduardo Er.h..
OF Kansas City, who usually is Car.
cia's patrol leader.
The day he killed is Jaoac.,.
within a few minutes is ono q.
men of his platoon still talk ,Ars
in tones of awe.
That was the most beautiful Nj.
OF soldering you ever did 500"
exclaimed Capt. Charles Hoskir,
Ill of Baltimore, the company com.
mander.
IA series of Jap caves was hcls.
ing up an entire company. The wsv
that man worked was beautiful IN
see. Running under fire, he dashed
in on the flank. As he reached
cave he paused, then took on.
quick side step like boxer. Stanu.
ing square in the mouth, ne emp.
tied a whole BAR. (automadc
rifle clip in one burst. Five caves
and Is Japs! What a record!'
On patrol, the Cuban tirebsN
(Who is the father OF a l5.year.ou
boy and has three other children
and a wife in Havana) always
serves as lead scout.
HE moves like bat out Of
HE'LL" says Sergeant Esteban, and
the rest of can hardly keep up
with him"
Sometimes I think that guy can
smell Japs," added another, he
always sees them before they see
him."
His patrol ability has paid the
platoon handsomely under difficult
mountain conditions. Not one mem.
Der Of a Garcia-led patrol ever has
been wounded. 1t is on these pa.
trolls, where alertness and the .ls'
ment of surprise are so important
that he has bagged most Of his
80 Japanese.
Garcia's devotion 10 military for.
malities is sometimes headache
to officers. He is a demon for sa'
luting. even Up front. That's bad
from the officers standpoint be-
cause it marks them for enemy
snipers who like troop leaders for
targets.
In a classic example, he climbed
up a hill which was under inter
mittent Japanese machinegun hfs'
saluted smartly and said: Private
Garcia has the permission Of ~
first sergeant to report to the com
pany commander, sir
The Cuban fighter, an ex-seannan
who had two ships torpedoed under
him, had a hard time getting INTO
a fighting role. He had to plead
his way into the 32nd Division rom
a headquarters assignment.
He will declaim on the virtues Oh
democracy at the drop OF nat
or the drop Of a mortar ~sl'
Asked why he declined shah's
for a stateside furloush, ne oe'
clared: 81 want to fight Tor aehO'
cracy right into the streets Oh iOA,
yo." He holds the Silver Star anu
Oak Leaf Cluster and the bfon'
Star. -. :,
His wife and children resloe "
Avenida Oeste Y Asunelon, ~. y,
Pinos. Havana, and his parents ~
Avenida Oeste Y Aldsbo, Los flhO''