After more than 80 years, U.S. Navy Storekeeper 3rd Class Robert Stillman Garcia has been laid to rest in Texas, following the confirmation of his identity earlier this year. Garcia was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, while serving aboard the USS California.

Garcia was 23 years old when the Tennessee-class battleship sustained multiple torpedo and bomb hits during the surprise attack. The ship ultimately sank after three days, and Garcia was among 102 crew members who lost their lives. His remains went unidentified for decades and were buried as unknowns at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

Thanks to renewed identification efforts by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) beginning in 2018, Garcia’s remains were confirmed in April 2025. He is one of 11 sailors from the USS California identified through this initiative. Nine shipmates remain unidentified.

Garcia was born in Concepcion, Texas, in 1918 and enlisted in the Navy at age 22. After completing basic training in San Diego, he joined the USS California in October 1940. Family correspondence preserved by relatives reflects his close ties to home, including letters asking his sister to hold off on sending baked goods that drew attention from fellow sailors.

On Tuesday, Garcia was honored with a burial service at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi. Hundreds of family members and community attendees gathered to pay their respects. Marine Corps veteran JR Bonilla, Garcia’s great grand nephew, accepted a folded American flag on behalf of the family.

Garcia’s return and burial mark a significant moment for his family and the broader effort to honor those lost in World War II. The ceremony served as a reminder of enduring service and the importance of remembrance.