Marines Don't Cry
by Daniel Garcia and Jacqueline C. Garcia
GENRE: Memoir, Non-fiction
BLURB:
Have you ever been lost -- really lost?
Danny and Jackie answer this question in Marines Don’t Cry with stories of death to life, deep sorrow to joy, darkness to light, and freedom in Christ.
Danny recounts his early life in Spanish Harlem and describes conversion from a life of drugs and “the fast lane” to one consumed with knowing and serving God. This makes his journey of walking more than 52 million steps on six continents for children and world peace such an incredible story.
Marines Don’t Cry is about the transformational power of God’s love: how Danny found his calling and is delivering the message of Christ at all costs.
Buy links: Marines Don't Cry (marinesdontcry.com)
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Excerpt:
Chapter 13: Taken Hostage in Gaza
The next morning, the Palestinian officials picked me up, gave me food to eat, and took me to a hospital. They showed me some of the kids wounded by guns. The media interviewed me.
I told them, “I walk for these children who are in the crosshairs of conflict.”
After the hospital visit, they took me to a building I think was the headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Several people welcomed me, and I told them I was walking through Gaza for Palestinian children too. They thanked me, and some of them were weeping as they presented me with a medal on behalf of President Yassar Arafat and the Palestinian children.
I told the representatives where I was going, so the PLO assigned me a security detail of twenty men, ten on each side. The guards walked with me through the Gaza Strip, where I visited several refugee camps. The Palestinians were friendly and grateful that I was walking for their children. At the southern tip of the Gaza Strip, I reached the region of Rafah, which is mostly populated by refugees. Rafah’s border crossing, Egyptian-controlled, is the only means of crossing from the Gaza Strip into Egypt. Here, the Palestinian security detail left me. I was alone again.
That afternoon, I arrived in Rafah. As I walked through the streets of Rafah, I felt friction in the air. The tension was thick, hair-raising. I was alone with no escort or entourage. There was no American or UN presence.
The same day, Israeli forces had shot and killed a young Palestinian girl in Rafah. People were in the streets protesting at a heightened pitch. An angry mob of about 2,000 Palestinians saw me walking in the streets. Then three or four of them with rifles grabbed me by my arms. The men pulled me at gunpoint toward a one-story shell of a house.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” they demanded.
The people in the mob saw everything. They yelled and fired their weapons in the air as if they were cheering my capture. We continued to move toward the building and, once inside, the men shoved me and threw me into a room. I was taken off-guard, dazed.
Then I realized that I was a captive. I had been taken hostage.
Perhaps it was three or four hours? As a hostage, I lost track of time. I relied on my Marine Corps training to survey my surroundings. I was frightened but knew not to show fear or panic. I had to appear calm.
I prayed silently, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. You brought me here, you order my every step. I trust you. Keep me calm, give me favor. Save me.”
My captors took my backpack and searched through my possessions. They found the silver medal with Arabic writing. They pulled the medal out of my pack like a treasure and held up it.
“What is this?” the captors asked.
Calmly, I said, “I walk for children, and I walk for Palestinian children. That medal was given to me this morning on behalf of Yasser Arafat, expressing his thanks for the walk I am doing for your children.”
Yasser Arafat was the Leader of the PLO. Because Mr. Arafat knew of me, the abductors realized they had to protect me, not kill me.
The men quickly repacked and zipped my pack and gave it back to me. They shuffled me from the holding area, took me outside, and threw me into a waiting taxi with my belongings on top of the car.
When the mob saw me being put into a taxi, they turned their attention toward me and ran, charging the taxi. They wanted vengeance to quench their anger at the death of one of their young daughters. They wanted to kill me.
The situation grew more chaotic, and my captors lost control. The bloodthirsty mob swarmed the car, screaming and beating with their fists on all sides. They rocked the taxi side to side, trying to overturn the car to get to me. Would I escape? Would I survive?
Interview with Danny and Jackie C. Garcia
What are your future goals?
Before goals, I have a vision! That vision is to walk and pray and touch the hearts of people around the world. I have goals which support my vision, and the book reveals a glimpse of that vision in action. One of the goals is to have a script and musical score for this book (I have offers). Another goal is to write the second book (we’ve started that outline). I intend to have our book translated into several languages (God gave us a Spanish translator, and that is in progress, too).
Do you have particular events that you felt were the most successful with people?
Every time I throw a party, no one wants to leave. I love to bring people together. I was one of the original promoters of the Woodstock Festival. From all over the world, over 400,000 people came together for peace, love, and rock n roll. I was there for 10 days until it was over and they were picking up the trash. THAT was a happening. I also produced concerts; they wanted more encores. Music was my life, and I loved it. God gave me the gift of charisma and speaking. He also allowed me to see what is going on inside of people: their hurts, doubts, insecurities, hopes, their love, passions, and for some their future. I have been on radio, television, podcasts, etc., worldwide. They always want to hear more because I tell the truth, based on what God wants me to tell them (not my personal opinion).
What is the most compelling chapter in “Marines Don’t Cry”?
That’s a toughie, because I devoted a whole chapter to the Pope and a painting I promoted for 20 years. That painting now resides in the Vatican. However, the most compelling chapter has to be the one which we had to write about because it gives explanation to my journey. That chapter is “A Word About PTSD” – I have combat PTSD. Walking around the world and sharing the love of God with others was a way to survive and look outward vs. turning inward to destruction.
How do you react when people don’t respond to our efforts?
It’s curious, because I am sometimes amazed at how people eliminate themselves and try to limit God. We also can discern when people have hidden agendas. From time to time, we have been hurt by those agendas and unkind words. So how do we respond? By turning the other cheek, by praying for them, and forgiving them, for they know not what they do.
Do you ever doubt God?
That is a strong word to use, “doubt”. There was a time, when I was younger and did not know the Lord. Since I did not know him, how could I believe or disbelieve that he was? I always knew there was a God, in my heart of hearts, but I did not know him as my personal savior. In my home, I was brought up to believe there was a God. I did not doubt his existence. I just didn’t know him then.
Now, I never doubt God. I have complete trust in Him. He is my Lord and Savior.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
About the authors of Marines Don’t Cry
Daniel Garcia
Danny Garcia, The Walking Man, was born and raised in New York’s Spanish Harlem. He served as a United States Marine, law enforcement officer, and ordained minister. Since 1996, he has prayed and walked over 52,000, 000 steps on six continents for children and world peace. During his journeys, Garcia met with dignitaries all over the world, ministering to the famous and to the poorest of the poor. Danny made presentations to Kings/royals, Presidents, and other world leaders, to include four Presidents of the USA, several Prime Ministers of other countries, the Pope, Mother Teresa, Ambassadors and various eminent personalities and multilateral organizations. Garcia began his journey as a personal commitment to peace and children and continued walking and raising funds for multiple charitable organizations.
Danny is married to the former Jacqueline Charsagua of El Paso, TX, and they work side by side to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. For more information, visit Danny’s website, www.globalwalk.cc.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ LinkedIn
Danny Garcia Walking Man Friends - Facebook Group
Danny Garcia Walking Man - YouTube
Jackie Charsagua Garcia
Jackie Charsagua Garcia is married to Daniel Garcia. She graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, in 1985 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Jackie holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management. While in the US Air Force, Jackie specialized in communications, acquisition, systems engineering, and information technology.
After a rewarding and fulfilling Air Force career, she retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the summer of 2006, having spent more than 21 years on active duty. Since 2006, she has supported and advised on all aspects of her husband’s walks and charitable initiatives within the United States and abroad. She joined Danny during his Africa Walk in 2007 and ministered in South Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Southern Sudan. During this time, her faith and reliance on God grew tremendously under the mentorship of Danny Garcia. The Global Walk experience gave Jackie an opportunity to serve God abroad, and her vision is to spread the hope, love, and the grace of Jesus Christ through her writing. She is a native of El Paso, TX, mother of one amazing daughter, and a breast cancer survivor.
Facebook ~ Instagram ~ LinkedIn
YouTube link of an interview with Danny and Jackie for the Veterans History Project: YouTube
12 comments:
Hello AVID READER host, readers, and authors. What a great name for a blog. We are thrilled to be here as a stop on our virtual tour. Update: we attended a graduation ceremony for new US Marines at Parris Island, South Carolina, and met many family members. They love the book! They are buying the book! Curious, how many of you readers have family members who have served in the US Armed Forces?
Thank you for sharing the excerpt.
Hello again, Rita Wray! Our pleasure to share and be at this virtual stop.
More on my previous comment: Did you know that on March 18th Danny celebrated his 77th birthday at Parris Island, SC, 60 years after his own graduation from Boot Camp in 1962? It was an amazing visit with new Marines and their families. Do you have family members who have served in the US Armed Forces? Sincerely, Jackie c.g.
Sounds like a very interesting book.
Hello Sherry, thanks, we do think so. Please check us out. Curious, what is your favorite genre of reading and/or writing? This is our first book, so we are learning as we go.
Thank you for sharing the authors' Q&A and book details, this memoir is a must read for me and I am looking forward to it
Great excerpt, Marines Don't Cry sounds like a fascinating read for me! Thanks for sharing it with me and have an exceptional day!
Dear Bea LaRocca and Stormy Vixen, great to hear from you again, and we are honored to be guest bloggers on #AvidReader. Thanks for the "must read" characterization, and we are confident this memoir will move you. Our pleasure to share.
looks interesting
Thanks bn100. What strikes you first, gets you attention?
Do you have any advice for new writers?
Hello Jamie Martin, great question. Authenticity, a clear voice, and trusting your gut. No need to be perfect, no need to be complete. One editor told us, "Your readers really don't care about where you were born, who your parents are, etc. They want to hear your story." We could have gone that route if this were pure fiction, but that wasn't the case. As a memoir, the details of childhood DO MATTER, as the content will be a legacy for generations to follow. Thanks for asking! We appreciate you, Jamie Martin
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