Jerome John Garcia (August 1, 1942 â August 9, 1995) was an American musician, best known for being a principal songwriter, the lead guitarist and a vocalist with the rock band Grateful Dead, of which he was a founding member and which came to prominence during the counterculture of the 1960s. Although he disavowed the role, Garcia was viewed by many as the leader of the band. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 as a member of the Grateful Dead.
Jerry Garcia’s official military personnel file says the guitarist was “unreliable, irresponsible, immature, unwilling to accept authority and completely lacking in soldierly qualities.” This led to his discharge from the Army in 1960 just eight months after he enlisted.
After Garcia stole his mother’s car, she forced him to join the Army. Jerome John Garcia enlisted on Apr. 12, 1960.
In a statement submitted by Walter L. Heller, he wrote that “Garcia came to my attention because of his personal uncleanliness and the filthy condition of his personal billeting area in the barracks… In order to develop or rehabilitate an individual, some degree of cooperation on the part of that individual must be present… I have noted no evidence of any degree of cooperation on the part of Garcia. In my opinion, Garcia should be eliminated from the servIce.”
On December 14, 1960 Garcia was officially discharged from the Army.
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