Rosenberg in Fort Bend County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Macario García
Macario García was born on January 2, 1920, in Villa de Castaño, Mexico, to Luciano and Josefa García. The family moved to Fort Bend County, Texas, in 1923 to pick crops in Sugar Land. In 1942, Macario García was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in World War II. He was wounded in action at Normandy in June 1944 but recovered and rejoined his unit, Company B, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. In November 1944 at Grosshau, Germany, García destroyed two German machine-gun emplacements; although wounded, he secured his company's position. For his actions, García received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman in a White House ceremony on August 23, 1945. He also received other commendations, including the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart and the Medal Mérito Militar, the Mexican equivalent of the U.S. Medal of Honor.
In Texas in September 1945, García was denied service at a local restaurant because he was Hispanic. He was ultimately arrested. Indicative of the treatment many minority veterans received following military service, García’s case became highly visible in the early years of the American Civil Rights movement, and several groups including LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) came to his aid. On June 25, 1947, García became a U.S. citizen. He worked for the Veterans Administration for 25 years and served in the U.S. Army Reserves, attaining the rank of Command Sergeant Major. He died in a car accident in 1972 and is buried in the Houston National Cemetery. A Houston Army Reserve Center and a school is Sugar Land are also named in his honor.
Erected 2006 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 13044.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Hispanic Americans • Law Enforcement • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is January 2, 1920.
Location. 29° 32.777′ N, 95° 49.667′ W. Marker is in Rosenberg, Texas, in Fort Bend County. Marker is on Blume Road south of Matamoros Drive, on the right when traveling south. Marker is under a tree near playground on the driveway to the parking lot in Garcia Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 716 Blume Rd, Rosenberg TX 77471, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Holy Rosary Catholic Parish (approx. 0.8 miles away); Julius Edward Junker (approx. 1.2 miles away); Teague-Waddell House (approx. 1.3 miles away); Rosenberg (approx. 1.3 miles away); Rosenberg City Hall Gazebo Plaza (approx. 1.3 miles away); First Baptist Church of Rosenberg (approx. 1.4 miles away); Trone-Ray-Lane House (approx. 1.4 miles away); Rosenberg Cemetery (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rosenberg.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 16, 2022, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 134 times since then and 18 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on October 16, 2022, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.