Character Analysis
Johnny is a friend of Steinbeck's from when they were kids, and Steinbeck visits him when he goes home. Apparently, their reunion is emotional: "There was a touching reunion in Johnny Garcia's bar in Monterey, with tears and embraces, speeches and endearments, in the poco Spanish of my youth" (3.8.27). Of course, this reunion, and reaction, involves Steinbeck himself and some other old friends, but you get the sense that Johnny was pretty emotional when Steinbeck describes his "tear-blown Gallego eyes" (3.8.28).
Beyond that, we don't know too much about Johnny—other than the fact that he wants Steinbeck to come home, and he wears a gold medal with an open shirt.