Service, Awards, and Honors

1942-46: Served in World War II as infantry officer, Engineer and Medical Corps. Awarded Bronze Star with six battle stars.

1948: Founded American GI Forum of the United States of America.

1952: Awarded "Medalla Al Merito" for work amongst Mexican Americans by the American GI Forum of Texas.

1960-64: Served as National President of the Political Association of Spanish Speaking Organizations.

1961: Representative of President Kennedy and member of the American delegation signing treaty concerning Mutual Defense Area Agreement between the United States and the Federation of West Indies.

1964: Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson as Presidential representative to the inauguration of Raul Leoni, President of Venezuela.

1965: Presented by the President of the Republic of Panama with "Condecoracion, Orden Vasco Nunez de Balboa" with the rank of commander.

1967: Awarded marine Plaque by 8th Marine Corps District in recognition of service honoring Vietnam casualties.

1967: Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson as member of the National Advisory Council on Economic Opportunity of the United States.

1967: Appointed by President Johnson as delegate to the United Nations with the rank of ambassador.

1968: Sworn in as Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

1969: Humanitarian Award presented by the Corpus Christi Chapter of the NAACP.

1972: Named member of the Texas Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

1977: Member of the U.S. Circuit Judge Nominating Commission for the Western Fifth Circuit Panel, appointed by President Jimmy Carter.

1978: Member of the White House conference on Balanced National Growth and Economic Development in Washington, D.C. Appointed by President Jimmy Carter.

1980: Distinguished Service Award, National Office of Civil Rights.

1984: Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Reagan, the highest civilian award given by the President of the United Slates.

1985: Dr. Hector P. Garcia Endowed Chair, created at Yale University.

1987: Given "The Community Service Award" by the Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission.

1988: Presented "The Humanitarian Award" by the Coalition of Hispanic Health and Human Services Organization.

1988: Main post office in Corpus Christi was renamed in honor of Dr. Hector P. Garcia.

1989: Given "The Hispanic Heritage Award" by National Hispanic Leadership Conference, Washington. D.C.

1989: Presented "The National Hispanic Hero Award' by Midwest/Northeast Voter Registration Project.

1990: Presented "MAPA Award" by the Mexican American Physicians' Association for outstanding service to Hispanics throughout the United Stales.

1990: Given "The Distinguished Lifetime Service Award" by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

1990: Presented "The Equestrian Order of Pope Gregory the Great" by Pope John Paul II.

1991: Awarded Corpus Christi State University's first honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

1993: Memorial Medical Center in Corpus Christi names its indigent health clinic after Dr. Garcia.

1996: Dedication of the Dr. Hector Garcia Plaza and nine-foot bronze statue at "Texas A&M Corpus Christi"

1999: Dr. Hector P. Garcia's image is placed on the U.S. Treasury $75 I Bond series honoring great Americans.

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