>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1968) Vol. 3, pp.21-22.





GARCIA





	Fernando Luis Garcia was born 14 October 1929 at 

Utuado, P.R., and was inducted into the Marine Corps 

19 September 1951.  A member of the 3d Battalion, 5th 

Marines, Private Garcia served valiantly in 

Korea--particularly on 5 September 1952 when he threw 

himself on an enemy grenade to save the life of a comrade.  

Private Garcia was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor 

for heroism, the first native Puerto Rican to be so honored.





DE-1040

Displacement:  2,624 tons (light)

Length:  514’

Beam:  45’

Draft:  25’

Speed:  27 k.

Complement:  239

Armament:  2 5”; 4 torpedo tubes; 1 ASROC

Class:  GARCIA



	GARCIA (DE-1040) one of a new and powerful class of 

escort vessels, was launched 31 October 1963, by Bethlehem 

Steel Co., San Francisco, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. Daisy 

Garcia de Alvarez, sister; and commissioned 21 December 

1964, Comdr. Donald A. Smith in command.



	After trials and training off the Pacific Coast, the 

new destroyer escort departed San Diego 22 March 1965; 

transited the Panama Canal; and arrived her homeport 

Newport, R.I., 7 April.  Following ship qualification tests 

she sailed for the Caribbean 7 May for shakedown.  She 

returned Newport l6 July.  For the remainder of 1965 and 

through 1966, GARCIA operated out of Newport perfecting her 

ASW and sonar techniques.



	[DE-1040 became FF-1040 on 30 June 1975.  Transferred 

to Pakistan on 31 January 1989, GARCIA served that nation as 

frigate SAIF (F-264).  Towed to Singapore, she was returned 

to United States custody on 13 January 1994.  Former SAIF 

was demilitarized, transferred to the Maritime 

Administration (MARAD) and sold for scrapping 29 March 1994.  



K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, “Register of Ships of 

the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.243.

Naval Institute “Proceedings,” May 1995, pp.219, 220.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com