LOCAL HEROES
Four veterans share their stories of service, sacrifice and finding family at the new upgraded American Legion Post 6 in Chapel Hill Photography by J ohn Mic h a el Sim ps on
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s a first-generation immigrant, Sgt. Tony Garcia “It was pretty intense … the [shallowest] depth I did was 800 feet,” Tony heard often of the “American dream.” The Texassays. Even with a new and exhilarating career, Tony, a father of four, born, Wyoming-bred Tony started on his own dream was feeling homesick. “The money was good, but I was a stranger to my from a young age, beginning with rigorous labor. family,” he says. “I came home and tried to find a purpose, and I started “I worked the fields from about visiting my local American Legion.” 9 to 13 before I was old enough to work on After finding work with the Durham Veterans construction jobs,” he says. His grandfather, a Affairs as a projects manager, Tony spent time at veteran and pioneer Mexican/American Indian Post 6 of the American Legion. There, he listened I came home member of the Army National Guard, raised him to the heroic stories of other veterans. “I started and tried to find and was a big influence. Tony joined the service talking to these guys, really finding a motivation to a purpose, and I started in 2007, signing up for the Army as a paratrooper. stay a part of the veteran community and decided visiting my local “[I] grew up in a small town, and the coolest guys to run for commander [of Post 6].” Tony says. “It’s American Legion.” who came through were [part of an] airborne the only position I’ve ever held with the American [division],” he says. While Tony spent his time Legion, which is crazy,” he says as not only the – Tony Garcia jumping out of planes as infantry, he specialized first Hispanic commander of Post 6 but also the in infiltrations and airfield seizures in Iraq and youngest at 33. Afghanistan. “As a sniper team leader, [I] carried out many missions One of Tony’s goals is to appeal to younger generations and impart [with my team] that saved American lives,” Tony says. to them that joining the service doesn’t have to mean “pulling Leaving the service in late 2013, Tony worked first for several years triggers” or being on the front lines. “The military is not a final option as a nuclear welder, earning a six-figure salary. Ambitious as ever, he or the bottom line. There are plenty of jobs out there,” he says. “You decided to enroll in a commercial diving school where he became an can excel at a career where you would have a retirement at a very underwater demolition expert, a role that took him all over the country. young age.” –By James Dupree 38
chapelhillmagazine.com
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November 2021