Continuing Family Legacy

Updated: October 5, 2023

De La Garza —Ready to Proudly Serve His Country

Emilio Flores

LFN

La Feria, Texas — Nicholas J. De La Garza’s aspiration to serve his country runs deep in his family. His father, Michael De La Garza, is a Desert Storm veteran who served as a Navy Corpsman, and his uncle, Joseph De La Garza, dedicated several years to both the Army and Navy. This legacy of service extends further, with Nicholas’ cousin, Devin, serving as a rescue diver in the U.S. Navy.

In our previous feature, we learned about Nicholas’ ambitious plans to serve four years of active duty before pursuing a career with U.S. Customs or Border Patrol.
Nicholas De La Garza shares some of his experience with La Feria News about completing his basic training and advanced infantry training. His resilience and determination were put to the test at boot camp, an environment where he learned the invaluable lesson of persevering through challenges, even when the odds seem insurmountable.

When asked about his readiness to enlist in the Army after graduation, Nicholas shared, “Enlisting right after high school was my plan from the start. I always knew I wanted to join the military, and now here I am, four months later, about to do bigger and better things. I don’t know where I would be if I had not joined the military.”

One of the most significant takeaways from his military experience has been the value of teamwork. Boot camp brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds and challenged them with missions and tasks that demanded collaboration. Nicholas remarked, “One of the biggest things I learned was teamwork. They brought people from all over the world into this controlled environment, and we all learned how to work together to accomplish the goal.”

Now, with his basic and advanced training behind him, Nicholas De La Garza has embarked on his next adventure. He is stationed at Fort Drum in New York, where he is expected to work with heavy machinery vehicles. This assignment comes with its own set of challenges, including adapting to the markedly different climate of upstate New York, where temperatures can plummet to -10 degrees during the winter.

Nicholas is looking forward to his first duty station and the opportunities it presents for professional growth. His determination and strong foundation instilled by his family and community in La Feria have positioned him for success as he serves his country.

Nicholas De La Garza’s journey from high school graduate to U.S. Army soldier showcases the power of determination and the unwavering support of family and community. As he takes on the responsibilities and challenges of his new role, he serves as an inspiration to those who aspire to follow their own path of service and achievement. Nicholas De La Garza shares that he plans to meet with students from La Feria Early College High School and share his experience. De La Garza is a great example of a proud American serving and sharing his pride of this Country with the people around him and his community.

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