Julia Brownley tweeted the following:
"Garcia is survived by numerous family members, including great-nephew Ric Ruffinelli, who was instrumental in helping the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) in identifying Garcias remains."Read on Twitter
Here are other recent tweets from Julia Brownley:
"The discovery has brought a great sense of pride to the family, and Ric is working with his family to plan a proper celebration of life for his uncle who passed away heroically in protecting our nation. Read more about this story here vcstar.com/story/news/loc"Read on Twitter"Read on Twitter
"Eighty years later, through forensics and DNA from family, Shipfitter 2nd Class Garcia as identified as Venturas first causality of World War II."Read on Twitter
"In 1936, Ventura native Claude Ralph Garcia enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the USS West Virginia when the battleship was bombed and torpedoed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941."Read on Twitter
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