Isavel "Tony" Anthony Garza

Tony’s Family life in conjunction with his Military career included Traveling with family to various Military deployments at bases in the Pacific fleet. Here Tony would meet his first wife Mihoko Garza in 1954 at Japan then give birth to his first of four children. From Japan the family moved to Long Beach California having his second child Samuel R. Garza (Rick) while on overseas duty on 04/10/1958. Then while in the Philippines Subic Bay Michael Allen Garza was born 03/24/1960. His fourth child was born Mark William Garza, while in Long Beach California on 10/17/1962.

While raising his children on Military assignments they traveled as a family to Japan, Philippines, Hawaii, and California. During family travels he would take his family on outings to beaches with other families for picnics and bar-b-ques. Movies were a big part of family outings and Military celebrations. Camping and fishing was also a part of some of the outings that the boys enjoy with their father. During these trips he would often involve his children in the culture of the foreign country. Taking the family out on jungle excursion with indigenous peoples to sample the culture and harvest from the lands. In Japan as children, they would participate in Obon festivities and intermingle with family members, learning the customs and cultures. At times Tony’s children would dress in customary celebratory attire. Making Mochi handed down from centuries of family tradition during the New Year Celebration. We would visit famous parks and temples as families. In the Philippines the children were taught how to bamboo dance “Tinikling”. Watched Good Friday Passion for Christ in the streets of the Philippines. Taken on Jungle excursion with Aeta’s indigenous guides to pick mangos and sweet potatoes by the basket loads. He showed his children how to interact and trade cartons of cigarette bartering for the best the jungle had to offer. As part of our jungle training we would visit “JUST” Jungle Urban Survival Training” offered to Navy families and their children to learn how to react to wildlife encounters. His passion for his family extended beyond His career. Mark the youngest of the boys contracted at the time a very rare blood disease known a form of Lupus while living in Japan. During this time Tony completed his Practical Factors for upgrade to E8 ENCS (Senior Chief). He put family first and turned down the upgrade and insisted on retirement to put his youngest child’s health as a family priority.

He is survived by his second wife Daylinda P. Garza which he married in 09/26/1989. He continued to serve as his passion in church communities teaching and traveling. Here he expanded his family to include close friends and family overseas. Many have come to know him over the past 33 years and affectionately call him “Papa Tony, Uncle Tony, and Kuya Tony”. He would often visit Family in Texas where there would be huge parties with family siblings and Texas relatives. He was often found building homes and room additions during his entire life. His life was filled with a melting pot of family members he would enjoy spending time with sharing life stories and planning the next big event. He loved his church family as his own, and his extended family.

Military Career and Awards for Isavel Antony (Tony) Garza, 08/07/1935-01/18/2026

Tony Joined the Navy (1952) at the age of 17 before completing high school. Continued his education in the U.S. Navy earned a GED during his career on 11/08/1962. Earned the Rank of E-7 Chief Petty Officer on 04/16/1966. Received Good Conduct Medal for Service ending 11/15/1968. He completed the USN Practical Factors for (ENCS) Engineman Senior Chief in 11/15/1968.

During his Military Career some of the ships he served on were the USS Harry E. Hubbard. DD-748 an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer. (Served 1953-1966) San Diego in January 1953 departed on 11 July to guard fast carrier task groups patrolling after the Armistice Agreement was signed in Korea. Intervened by patrol in the Taiwan Straits, this duty continued until 13 January 1954. She returned to San Diego for overhaul and refresher training along the western seaboard.

Tony Served aboard the Harry E. Hubbard which departed San Diego 11 August 1954 on the first of nine additional Far East tours with the 7th Fleet which were completed by the close of 1966. During this service, the ship joined the roving 7th Fleet 6 to 13 February 1955 in moving in under Chinese Communist artillery defenses to cover the evacuation of Chinese Nationalist from untenable positions on the Tachen Islands. In May 1955, she participated in "Operation WIGWAM", an underwater nuclear test approximately 500 miles southwest of San Diego, California. In October to November 1956 then diverted from Australia to the "Dewline" in the Northern Pacific to serve on picket patrol during the Suez Crisis. The Hubbard next joined in combined warfare exercises with SEATO Treaty nations to improve readiness in defending freedom in that part of the world. From time to time, patrolling the Taiwan Straits to ensure Taiwan was not threatened from the Communist mainland of China. She was off Guam in June 1960, twice guarding the flight of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's aircraft during his Far East visit.

Vietnam War

During the Gulf of Tonkin Incident of August 1964, Harry E. Hubbard was nearby in the South China Sea screening Ticonderoga. The carrier task group struck to destroy North Vietnamese torpedo boats and their supporting facilities. In awarding the Navy Unit Commendation to Ticonderoga and her screen, Secretary of the Navy Paul Nitze stated that they had "demonstrated the firm intent of the United States to maintain freedom of the seas and to take all necessary measures in defense of peace in Southeast Asia."

Harry E. Hubbard returned to Long Beach on 28 October 1964 for a year of warfare readiness along the western seaboard. In October 1965, she departed for the coast of South Vietnam. In company with Valley Forge in November and December 1965, she provided gunfire support for two Marine amphibious landings. In the following months, she acted as escort to Kitty Hawk and Hancock during their strike operations in the South China Sea, acting as Harbor Defense ship at Da Nang and fired more than 1,000 rounds of exploding 5-inch shells into Viet Cong strongholds along the South Vietnamese coast. She returned to Long Beach, California, on 7 April 1966. The destroyer had drawn nationwide attention on 10 March 1966 when the ABC Television Network included scenes of one of her shore bombardments along the South Vietnamese coast.

USS Reclaimer- (ARS-42), (Served 1966-1969) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship of the United States Navy. It was the only ship of the US Navy to be named Reclaimer. In January 1966, she was off for WestPac again, and while so deployed was called on for three major salvage operations and for support in amphibious Operation Jackstay in rivers of the Rung Sat Special Zone. The first salvage job on this deployment was retracting the cargo ship SS Excellency stranded on Triton Island west of Subic Bay in the South China Sea. Reclaimer participated in the successful salvage of the Esso tanker SS Sea Raven off the beach of Chu Lai. Then, steaming south, she performed similar operations for merchantmen SS Grertrude Therese grounded at Afelie Island off northern Australia. She returned to Pearl Harbor on 29 August 1966, and on 9 November it was underway for Oregon to work with the cable laying ship USS Aeolus. During this period Reclaimer stood off Port Townsend, Washington to receive a Puget Sound pilot. A visitor approached Reclaimer in a rowboat who identified himself as the first CO of Reclaimer. He was welcomed aboard for a coffee and visit. She returned from the West Coast to Pearl Harbor a month later. Between deployments Reclaimer was tasked in dumping four very large and dozens of small steel barrels filled with concrete and radioactive waste at a location about 400 miles SW of Pearl Harbor.

In March 1967 Reclaimer rescued SS Norbega, dead in the water west of Midway, before deploying to WestPac in April. In June she laid a special radar reflecting buoy in the Gulf of Tonkin to aid SAR patrol ships in navigation. She continued operations off Taiwan and Vietnam, including the salvage of South Vietnamese LSM-406 aground at Phan Thiết, until returning to Pearl Harbor at the end of 1967.

After spending the first half of 1968 in Pearl Harbor Reclaimer arrived at Da Nang, South Vietnam, on 29 August for standby salvage duty. In September she salvaged LCV-1616 and in October LCU-1676. Returning to the West Coast in mid-1969, she deployed to WestPac again at the end of the year.

USS Cleveland an Austin-class amphibious transport dock homeport to San Diego, California, (Served 1970-191972) to become a member of the Pacific Fleet's Amphibious Force. Cleveland divided her time between operations in the Eastern Pacific and extended deployments to the Western Pacific. Cleveland was normally assigned as part of an Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) and, with her embarked Marines and other forces, performed a wide variety of missions. Cleveland first saw action during the Tet Offensive in 1968. In 1972 Cleveland served close in shore in the DMZ region as a platform for seven Marine AH-1 Cobra helicopters performing operations on NVA troop and supply lines.

After serving a 20 year service in the Military he continued working in Civil Service as an Engineer at the Miramar Naval Air Station then, then returned to Ship repair, maintenance and modernization project oversight as (Navsea Supship) Supervisor of Ship Repair San Diego independently administering and managed the execution of DoD contracts awarded to assigned commercial entries at the contractors’ facilities in the shipbuilding and ship repair industry for an additional 20 years ending his second retirement.

Military Career and Awards for Isavel Antony (Tony) Garza, 08/07/1935-01/18/2026

Tony Joined the Navy (1952) at the age of 17 before completing high school. Continued his education in the U.S. Navy earned a GED during his career on 11/08/1962. Earned the Rank of E-7 Chief Petty Officer on 04/16/1966. Received Good Conduct Medal for Service ending 11/15/1968. He completed the USN Practical Factors for (ENCS) Engineman Senior Chief in 11/15/1968.

During his Military Career some of the ships he served on were the USS Harry E. Hubbard. DD-748 an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer. (Served 1953-1966) San Diego in January 1953 departed on 11 July to guard fast carrier task groups patrolling after the Armistice Agreement was signed in Korea. Intervened by patrol in the Taiwan Straits, this duty continued until 13 January 1954. She returned to San Diego for overhaul and refresher training along the western seaboard.

Tony Served aboard the Harry E. Hubbard which departed San Diego 11 August 1954 on the first of nine additional Far East tours with the 7th Fleet which were completed by the close of 1966. During this service, the ship joined the roving 7th Fleet 6 to 13 February 1955 in moving in under Chinese Communist artillery defenses to cover the evacuation of Chinese Nationalist from untenable positions on the Tachen Islands. In May 1955, she participated in "Operation WIGWAM", an underwater nuclear test approximately 500 miles southwest of San Diego, California. In October to November 1956 then diverted from Australia to the "Dewline" in the Northern Pacific to serve on picket patrol during the Suez Crisis. The Hubbard next joined in combined warfare exercises with SEATO Treaty nations to improve readiness in defending freedom in that part of the world. From time to time, patrolling the Taiwan Straits to ensure Taiwan was not threatened from the Communist mainland of China. She was off Guam in June 1960, twice guarding the flight of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's aircraft during his Far East visit.

Vietnam War

Tony’s active duty during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident of August 1964, Harry E. Hubbard was nearby in the South China Sea screening Ticonderoga. The carrier task group struck to destroy North Vietnamese torpedo boats and their supporting facilities. In awarding the Navy Unit Commendation to Ticonderoga and her screen, Secretary of the Navy Paul Nitze stated that they had "demonstrated the firm intent of the United States to maintain freedom of the seas and to take all necessary measures in defense of peace in Southeast Asia."

Harry E. Hubbard returned to Long Beach on 28 October 1964 for a year of warfare readiness along the western seaboard. In October 1965, she departed for the coast of South Vietnam. In company with Valley Forge in November and December 1965, she provided gunfire support for two Marine amphibious landings. In the following months, she acted as escort to Kitty Hawk and Hancock during their strike operations in the South China Sea, acting as Harbor Defense ship at Da Nang and fired more than 1,000 rounds of exploding 5-inch shells into Viet Cong strongholds along the South Vietnamese coast. She returned to Long Beach, California, on 7 April 1966. The destroyer had drawn nationwide attention on 10 March 1966 when the ABC Television Network included scenes of one of her shore bombardments along the South Vietnamese coast.

Following this duty Tony served on the USS Reclaimer- (ARS-42), (Served 1966-1969) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship of the United States Navy. It was the only ship of the US Navy to be named Reclaimer. In January 1966, she was off for WestPac again, and while so deployed was called on for three major salvage operations and for support in amphibious Operation Jackstay in rivers of the Rung Sat Special Zone. The first salvage job on this deployment was retracting the cargo ship SS Excellency stranded on Triton Island west of Subic Bay in the South China Sea. Reclaimer participated in the successful salvage of the Esso tanker SS Sea Raven off the beach of Chu Lai. Then, steaming south, she performed similar operations for merchantmen SS Grertrude Therese grounded at Afelie Island off northern Australia. She returned to Pearl Harbor on 29 August 1966, and on 9 November was underway for Oregon to work with the cable laying ship USS Aeolus. Aboard Tony returned from the West Coast to Pearl Harbor a month later. Between deployments Reclaimer was tasked in dumping four very large and dozens of small steel barrels filled with concrete and radioactive waste at a location about 400 miles SW of Pearl Harbor.

In March 1967 Reclaimer rescued SS Norbega, dead in the water west of Midway, before deploying to WestPac in April. In June she laid a special radar reflecting buoy in the Gulf of Tonkin to aid SAR patrol ships in navigation. She continued operations off Taiwan and Vietnam, including the salvage of South Vietnamese LSM-406 aground at Phan Thiết, until returning to Pearl Harbor at the end of 1967.

Tony was also involved in the repair of the USS Forestal CVA-59 in 08/29/1967 the carrier that Senator John McCain serve aboard which received critical emergency repairs at Naval Air Station Cubi Point's Leyte Pier in Subic Bay, Philippines,. These temporary repairs, lasting about eight days, included patching the flight deck and ensuring structural integrity for the voyage back to the United States for permanent repairs.

USS Cleveland an Austin-class amphibious transport dock homeport to San Diego, California, (Served 1970-191972) to become a member of the Pacific Fleet's Amphibious Force. Cleveland divided her time between operations in the Eastern Pacific and extended deployments to the Western Pacific. Cleveland was normally assigned as part of an Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) and, with her embarked Marines and other forces, performed a wide variety of missions. Cleveland first saw action during the Tet Offensive in 1968. In 1972 Cleveland served close in shore in the DMZ region as a platform for seven Marine AH-1 Cobra helicopters performing operations on NVA troop and supply lines.

After serving a 20-year service in the Military he continued working in Civil Service as an Engineer at the Miramar Naval Air Station then, returned to Ship repair, maintenance and modernization project oversight as (Navsea Supship). Supervisor of Ship Repair San Diego His duties included independently administering and manage the execution of DoD contracts awarded to assigned commercial entities at the contractors’ facilities in the shipbuilding and ship repair industry for an additional 20 years concluding his second retirement.