AUSTIN, Texas— Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is encouraging Texans to attend the burial of U.S. Navy Storekeeper 3rd Class Robert Stillman Garcia, who was killed in action (KIA) at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Garcia was aboard the USS California when it was struck during a surprise attack by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor that killed 165 men, including Garcia, who was 23. Through DNA testing, Garcia's remains were positively identified and he will now be flown from Hawaii to South Texas to be interred at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi.
The burial of this war hero is open to the public.
WHO: Texas Veterans Land Board Staff
WHAT: Burial of Robert Stillman Garcia, World War II Hero KIA at Pearl Harbor
WHERE: Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery
9974 IH 37 Access Road
Corpus Christi, TX 78410
WHEN: Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 1:00 p.m
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Dr. Dawn Buckingham made history in 2022, winning a statewide election to become Texas' first female Land Commissioner. As Land Commissioner, Dr. Dawn Buckingham is committed to helping Texans after a disaster, supporting Texas energy, ensuring that every child in Texas receives a high-quality public education, serving Texas Veterans, and securing the border to keep our communities safe.