You never truly know the hidden stories within your family. Two years ago, a woman named Tara Garcia reached out to David Begnaud, a correspondent for “CBS Mornings,” to share a touching family story. Tara’s grandmother, Crescensia Garcia, had just turned 100 and survived a battle with COVID-19, only requiring oxygen for a brief period. Begnaud shared the remarkable story on Twitter, along with photos Tara had sent him. Little did they know, this was just the beginning of a much larger discovery.
Retired Army Colonel Edna Cummings saw the tweet and noticed something special in one of the photos showing Crescensia in her military uniform. Speaking to “CBS Mornings,” Cummings described her reaction as “hitting the jackpot” in a casino. The reason? Crescensia had been part of a unique World War II military unit.
To confirm her suspicions, Cummings reached out to Tara and asked for Crescensia’s dog tag numbers. After receiving them, Cummings confirmed that Crescensia had served in a burn unit near Birmingham, England, where she helped treat wounded soldiers during a staff shortage. While Crescensia may have seen this as just her duty at the time, her service was part of something truly extraordinary.
Crescensia Garcia was a member of the SixTripleEight, an all-Black, all-women military unit consisting of 855 members. Despite segregation, these women served their country with dedication. Today, at 102 years old, Crescensia is one of only six surviving members of this historic unit—an incredible fact her family never knew.
“They’re the only women’s military unit to receive the Congressional Gold Medal,” Cummings shared with “CBS Mornings.” “They are among an elite group of fewer than 200 recipients, the first being General George Washington.” Additionally, the family learned that Crescensia’s name is listed on a World War II monument at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, alongside other veterans.
Tara Garcia was stunned by the revelation. “I turned to my parents and said, ‘I think we’ve just opened Pandora’s box here,’” she recalled. The discovery led to incredible opportunities, including the chance to meet First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
Crescensia and Tara sat down for an interview with David Begnaud on “CBS Mornings,” sharing their family’s inspiring story. Though Crescensia is starting to show her age, she remains sharp and has a warm, resilient spirit.
Born in Puerto Rico in April 1920, before women in the United States had the right to vote, Crescensia grew up in a world far different from today. A loaf of bread cost less than 20 cents back then! In her youth, she moved to New York City, and at 24, she enlisted in the Army after being deeply angered by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She felt it was her duty to serve and protect her country.
Upon joining the Army, Crescensia was assigned to an all-Black unit for basic training in Texas. “They put me in the Black section, and there’s a White section. That’s America for you,” she told Begnaud during the interview. Due to her lighter complexion, Crescensia was able to “pass” as white, which opened more opportunities, such as becoming a medic—a role that gave her an advantage during her service.
Much like many other veterans, Crescensia doesn't see her role during the war as anything extraordinary. “I was just a medic,” she humbly said, believing she was simply fulfilling her responsibilities by tending to the wounded.
After the war, Crescensia returned to New York City, where she married, raised three children, and worked as a seamstress in Manhattan's Garment District. Today, at 102, she continues to share her incredible life story with the world.
During the interview, Begnaud had a surprise for both Crescensia and Tara—he had arranged for Dr. Jill Biden to call them via FaceTime.
“You are one incredible woman, and I can’t thank you enough for your service to our country,” Dr. Biden warmly told Crescensia.
In response, Crescensia saluted the First Lady, saying, “And I salute you. Keep it up. Keep up the good work.”
Although her memory has faded with age, Crescensia’s sharp presence of mind during her conversation with the First Lady is something Tara will never forget. “The fact that she knew who that was, and she felt that acknowledgment just now—that’s all I needed,” Tara said.
We honor and salute Crescensia Garcia for her incredible service and unwavering spirit.