Francisco Garza was born in Texas in 1931. In 1948, he joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the Pacific Amphibious Forces known as the “Gator Navy” and served during the Korean War. After he was honorably discharged and returned home to Texas, he found that he and other veterans of Mexican descent were not welcome to join veteran organizations. See his story in the video below.

Garza currently lives in McKinney.