Faces Bio

Bruce Richard Backes was born on November 8, 1946. His home of record is Titusville, NJ. He had one sister, Judith.

He entered the US Army and attained the rank of Specialist 4 (SP4).

Backes served with the 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was with the 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company.

Backes was the Radio Telephone Operator (RTO) for the Platoon Leader, Lt. Harry Wilson, during the Battle of An Boa, Binh Dinh Province (May 5-7 1968). At noon, on May 5, 1/50th "A" Company forces were attacked and outnumbered 10 to 1 by a regiment of the North Vietnamese Army. "A" Company forces were overrun and took heavy casualties when Charlie Company was called in to reinforce the besieged Alpha Company. Fierce fighting ensued on both 1/50th Companies and additional forces from other 1/50th Infantry Battalion elements as well as the 1/69th. Armor Battalion tanks were called in to battle the huge enemy force.

On May 5, 1968, at the age of 21, SP4 Backes was killed in action during the heavy fighting on the first day of battle.

Sources: Jim Sheppard (1/50th Association Historian) and NJVVMF.