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Veteran remembers call to duty, later starting Warriors United in Arms

Brownsville Herald - 2/7/2017

Straight out of high school, Tony Garcia knew he wanted to continue the family tradition and serve his country.

In May 1967, Garcia and a friend who graduated with him from BrownsvilleHigh School were both eager to enlist in the United States Army, he said.

On Dec. 26, 1970, the alarms in Garcia's barracks went off and that meant to report to the hangar. That's when Garcia realized his barracks was actually under attack.

"Everything was different. There were a lot of people from personnel and they were checking your dog tags, checking your shot records. ? We started going through a line and I remember telling one of the guys, 'cause I was sergeant at that time, I remember telling one of my guys, 'Hey, this is the real thing man. This is not a practice alert,'" Garcia said.

Later, Garcia founded Warriors United in Arms, a local organization made up of veterans that helps out other veterans in need. They help veterans who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and occasionally help veterans who need help financially.

Garcia said if he was called back to active duty, he would do it again.

"I'd do it in a second. Either you have the love for your country or you don't," Garcia said.

kcontreras@brownsvilleherald.com

A more complete version of this story is available at www.myBrownsvilleHerald.com