Reynaldo Garcia was born on January 21, 1925, in Laredo, Webb County, Texas. He was the son of Margarito and Francisca Gonzales Garcia. He served in the 602nd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner of B-17 #42-97387 nicknamed ''Maude an Maria'' during World War II.

On February 3, 1945, during a bombing mission over Berlin, the Maude an' Maria was involved in a mid-air collision with another B-17, serial number 43-38697, from the 603rd Bomb Squadron. The collision occurred approximately an hour after bombs were released, and both aircraft crashed near Lehmke, close to Gardelegen, Germany. Of the ten crew members aboard Maude an' Maria, seven were killed in action, and the remaining three survived the crash and were captured, becoming prisoners of war.

SSgt Garcia was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Laredo, Webb County, Texas, USA. Reynaldo Garica's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 7, in the bottom left wing (section C).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org