Army Pfc. Alberto Garcia Jr.

Died March 13, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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23, of Bakersfield, Calif.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany; died March 13 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire and an improvised explosive device.

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Soldier from Bakersfield, Calif., dies in Iraq

The Associated Press

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A soldier killed last week in Iraq was remembered by friends as a religious man who enlisted because he felt called to defend his country.

Pfc. Alberto Garcia Jr., 23, of Bakersfield, died March 13 in Baghdad of wounds suffered from small-arms fire and an improvised explosive, the Department of Defense said.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, in Schweinfurt, Germany.

Friends said Garcia was a man of faith who was active at Bakersfield’s Valley Bible Fellowship.

“He was a hero in more ways than one,” said David Morin, who met Garcia five years ago. “There’s not one person I’ve met where Albert hasn’t made a positive impact.”

Funeral and memorial arrangements for the South High School graduate were pending, Morin said.