09/21/2026
Adolph Hernandez Garcia served aboard USS TEXAS (BB-35) in the 1930s as a Chief Machinist's Mate. He was born Adolfo Hernandez Garcia in 1901 in Los Angeles California, the oldest of seven. His father, Francisco Garcia, immigrated to the United States from Mexico in 1900, where he met and married Angela Hernandez, herself the daughter of Mexican immigrants. Their growing family moved several times, from California to El Paso, Texas, and north to Rock Island, Illinois, where they finally settled. Over time, the Garcia family anglicized their names – Adolfo began going by Adolph, Francisco went by Francis. Adolph Garcia graduated from Carbon Cliff School in 1917, then joined the Navy in March 1919 as a Fireman 3rd class.
In 1920, he was serving at the submarine base in New London, Connecticut, likely attending the submarine school that had been established there. Over the 1920s, Garcia was promoted to Machinist’s Mate and made Chief before being assigned to TEXAS in October 1931. As a Chief Machinist’s Mate, he would have been assigned to either the ship’s main engines or some of the major auxiliary machinery, such as the steam steering engine, dynamos, or anchor windlass.
Chief Garcia’s skill set was in high demand too. In October 1932, he was detached to USS ARGONNE for several months, then transferred to USS ANTARES, and finally returned to TEXAS in March 1933. Chief Garcia remained aboard TEXAS until 1936 or 1937 and continued to serve in the Navy until 1947, when he retired as a Chief Warrant Officer Machinist.
📸: Photo of the Chief Petty Officers on TEXAS in the 1930s. Chief Garcia is in the center of the middle row. Courtesy of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
