The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Thomas Alan Backy, who died in the service of his country on February 9th, 1968 in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Mortar. At the time of his death Thomas was 19 years of age. He was from Festus, Missouri. Thomas is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 38E, Line 44.
The decorations earned by PFC Thomas Alan Backy include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.
Thomas is buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Crystal City, MO.
(From His Obituary)
Army Private Thomas A Backy, 19 of Festus, died in Vietnam February 9 from fragmentation wounds suffered while on combat operations.
Tommy attended Sacred Heart school and Festus high school and resided in Jefferson county most of his life. He was born in St Louis March 12, 1948, son of Mrs. Lana Kay Backy of 316 North Second Street, Festus and Andrew J Backy Sr. of 228 Main Street, Festus.
PFC Backy went to Vietnam last December 12. After his Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood MO.; he went to Fort Polk, LA for Advanced Infantry Training.
Survivors besides his parents are five brothers; Andrew Jr., Anthony, Marvin, Michael, and William; and three sisters; Mrs. Gary (Candy) Carrow, and Kathy and Mary Rozina Backy, all of Festus; grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Snelson of House Springs, and Mrs. Ann McGillvry, state of California; and a half-sister, Mrs. John Wagner of Baltimore, MD.
Mrs. Backy said that before leaving for Vietnam, Tommy requested that if anything should happened to him, he would like donations in his memory to be made to Jefferson County Association for Retarded Children, in lieu of flowers. This group owns the facilities occupied by State Training School No. 2 on Route A, between Mapaville and Hillsboro.
Funeral Mass for PFC Backy will be at 11 a.m. Thursday February 29 at Sacred Heart church, Internment will be in Festus-Crystal City Catholic cemetery.
(Posts From VirtualWall)
Bill Smith
billrsjr@yahoo.com
classmate and friend
1100 Eleventh St.
Festus, MO 63028 USA
Always remembered
Thursday, May 31, 2001
35 years Tom ..... so much time that you never enjoyed. I think of you daily and what you would have been like today. You will always be in my thoughts......
Forgive me for being alive
Posted by: Vic DeMitchell
Email:
Relationship: We served together
Monday, February 10, 2003
I knew Tom very well we grew up together in Festus ,Mo and entered the military about the same time /and I miss my friend yet to this day. I finished 20 yrs and NEVER forgot him' he'll stay in my heart forever.
Posted by: LGK
Email:
Relationship: Long Time Friend
Saturday, January 2, 1999
Burial:
Sacred Heart Cemetery
Crystal City
Jefferson County
Missouri, USA
Plot: Block L, lot 21, grave 3
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