Sergeant First Class Gilbert Garcia was born on January 27, 1986, in Dallas, Texas, to Jose and Edith Garcia. He grew up in the Pleasant Grove community, where gangs ran the blocks and violence was a part of everyday life. Gilbert had fortitude in spades. He wanted to make a better life for himself than the one he saw around him and to bring his family along with him. Fascinated by houses, he spent much of his youth watching them being built, and early on he dreamed of becoming an architect. He later took up carpentry and built homes himself.
Gilbert joined the Army in 2006 to further his knowledge and education. He earned his Green Beret and served with the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from 2006 to 2015 as a Special Forces engineer sergeant, a specialist in demolitions and construction. He deployed to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, five Army Commendation Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Citation, three Army Good Conduct Medals, the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals with campaign stars, the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Air Assault Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Along the way Gilbert pursued the education he had always wanted. He earned an associate degree in general studies from Fayetteville Technical Community College and an associate degree in engineering from Central Texas College. In 2015 he transitioned to the National Guard’s 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and he remained a Green Beret for 14 years in all. In 2017 he graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University with a bachelor of science in construction science. He worked for The Beck Group in Dallas, first as an intern and then as a construction superintendent, and later became a project engineer for the Phillips May Corporation. He was nearing completion of a master of business administration and a degree in management information systems from Texas Tech University. Always in pursuit of the “why,” he never stopped learning.
Family was the great joy of Gilbert’s life, above all his children, Nathan and Madeline. He loved fishing with them and cheering at their games, and he enjoyed soccer, running, camping and the gym. A man of grace equal to his intelligence, he had a strong faith in God and loved attending church with his children. Having beaten the odds of his own childhood, he taught them to be people of honor and kindness with everyone they met.
On February 19, 2021, at the age of 35, Gilbert lost his battle with post-traumatic stress in Dallas. His Special Forces brothers say he entered Fiddler’s Green to join the fallen who went before him. A Special Forces chaplain officiated at his funeral, and he was laid to rest with full military honors at Dallas–Fort Worth National Cemetery. Texas A&M honored him as one of its own in its Silver Taps roll call.
Gilbert is survived by his children, Nathan and Madeline Mary Garcia; his parents, Jose and Edith Garcia; his sister, Jocelyn; his brothers, Joe and Anthony; and many nieces, nephews and extended family. He is profoundly missed.
Gilbert embodied the finest qualities of a Special Forces Sergeant—brave, humble and fiercely loyal.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) Tribute
Sources
- Texas A&M Association of Former Students: Silver Taps / Roll Call tribute, Gilbert Garcia ’17
- Laurel Oaks Funeral Home: Gilbert Garcia
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Gilbert Garcia bio
