Gimme The Scoop Reviews: Book Tour/Giveaway - Marines Don't Cry by Daniel Garcia and Jacqueline C Garcia

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.

INTERVIEW 9:

It took you five years to write this book, why?

We had many life distractions along the journey of crafting the story, gathering and confirming references, and deciding what would be in the book. For instance, we decided to stop at the year 2001 because we had so much material. I had to learn the danger signs of low blood sugar because I collapsed during one of my walks. Also Jackie was diagnosed with breast cancer, so we had to pause so that she could undergo her many operations and recovery. You would think these obstacles would deter us, but we knew we had to get this story to the world. Our activity, desire, and focus increased. We couldn’t and wouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves. Jackie then reviewed and rewrote the book three times to give the reader a feel of my voice. I think we hit the mark.

What was the scariest moment of your life?

I’ve had several moments in my life that were terrifying, such as a tornado, wild dogs racing towards me, walking over a rattle snake.

The scariest was being taken hostage in Palestine, being beaten up and threatened. I was almost killed. I know God delivered me from that situation as my captors became aware that I was to be protected due to the medal I received from Yassar Arafat.

A close second was whenI had a drug overdose. I knew I was dying and couldn’t control what was happening. I knew that my spirit was leaving my body. I heard an audible voice say, “Choose life or death. You must choose now.”

Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.

This is exciting! We intend to have our book translated into several languages, with the first being Spanish. We met a young lady and her family. As a hospice nurse, she sees life and death regularly. She had translated English to Spanish in church services. She lives close to us and wants to do this because she sees that God indeed can use her, that she is talented and worthy. She has a higher calling, wants to be part of our Global Walk and those we touch. She sees the move of God, as our subtitle says, “Delivering the Message at All Costs.”

What is your favorite scene in this book?

One of my favorite memories is when I walked from the border of Jordan, along one of the most dangerous roads, to Bagdad. There were so many miracles in this walk, and the Iraqi people showered so much love, favor, and protection. When a sandstorm came upon us and engulfed us, the Olympic athletes took off their garments, wrapped them around my face, and kept the sand from getting in my eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. They lovingly shielded me. When the elders in a great room dressed me in flowing white garments and gave me an Arabic name for family, I felt their love. It was like the movie “Lawrence of Arabia” and they loved me.

Excerpt:

Chapter 12: Walking for Children Around the World

“You Don’t Have Enough Bullets”

As we left the Arab village and continued toward Baghdad, the security patrol noticed something odd. In the distance, the guards saw large groups of people coming toward the caravan. About 20,000 people were walking toward us and were converging on us. The people were coming from both sides of the road. The military escort responsible for my safety became agitated and concerned. The crowds were not racing angrily toward us, but we were clearly outnumbered. Although the vehicles had automatic machine guns at the front and back of the caravan, I think the escorts were afraid.

“What shall we do, Mr. Garcia? They are coming!” the guards exclaimed.

“You don’t have enough bullets. Let them come,” I said.

As the crowd got closer, I could hear them singing. The caravan came to a stop. The guards were shocked. The people were in unison, in harmony, like a massive choir. The melody was beautiful.

“Why are they doing this? Why are they singing? Are they singing to me?” I asked.

“This is unbelievable,” said the guards. “They are singing to you! They are welcoming you.”

“Welcome,” they sang lovingly. “You are welcome!”

I absorbed the beauty of this moment and melted in their love for me. I smiled as the crowds joined the caravan. In unison, we continued forward into Baghdad. More than fifty TV cameras from around the world, including China, were waiting and recorded the entry into Baghdad. The sponsors made sure that all vehicles were removed from the main highway so that we were clear to walk. We walked up and over a bridge, the main bridge into the city of Baghdad, and thousands of people were flashing cameras in the daytime.

The city welcomed us. The Iraqi Olympians cried. Never had they been acknowledged with such a welcome.

In front of all the people was a little girl, maybe six years old. She stepped toward me and, looking up, raised a flower to give to me. I bent down to accept her flower. Then I picked her up, turned her around, and set her on my shoulder for the crowds to see this beautiful child. The people went wild and shouted with joy and happiness. My gesture was a message to the world:

“Everyone, see her! This is your child. I love her, you all should love her! She is who I care about. The children, we must protect them.”

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.

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.

Websites:

https://marinesdontcry.com

https://www.globalwalk.cc

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/dannygarciawalkingman/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/263639465513321

https://www.facebook.com/jackiecharsagua.garcia

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/dannyg_walking man/

https://www.instagram.com/jackiecg_usafa85/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIBYOx4vqntVWUtW8pnefqg/videos

YouTube link of an interview with Danny and Jackie for the Veterans History Project: https://youtu.be/tiJV0RdVmis