A Cowboy of a Different Kind

Ernest Garcia is a cowboy, but a cowboy of a different kind. From south Texas, he spent his early years in a warm Hispanic family environment, rich with love, if not money. Although he didn't ride horses, he rode the door gunner position on helicopters during his army years in Vietnam-a cowboy on a metal flying horse. This memoir is the story of his life as a kid from the barrio, a soldier, and hard-working American who built a life for himself and his family. His occupations after Vietnam ranged from bank security guard, to parking lot attendant, to roughneck in the oil fields, award-winning life insurance salesman, and Social Security Administration Customer service representative. He is also a survivor of a vicious tornado. As a veteran he devotes his life to helping people, especially other veterans, securing the benefits they have earned. He honors veterans in ceremonies and memorials on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and has told his story in the stage performance of Telling, Albuquerque. He speaks to school groups, senior groups, and veterans group, and is active in many veterans' organizations, often in leadership positions. He is also winner of the prestigious Eagle Talon award for outstanding veterans. This is his story as a veteran, but it is also the story of a son, brother, nephew, father, uncle, husband, and grandfather.