Press Release
Release Nr: 1106-06
June 20, 2011
Fort Drum Public Affairs
10th Mountain Division Soldier killed in Afghanistan
Fort Drum, NY - A 10th Mountain Division Soldier was killed Saturday June 18, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
Killed is Private First Class Brian J. Backus, age 21, of Saginaw Township, Michigan. He was a combat medic with 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.
Backus joined the Army in June 2010. Following training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and Fort Sam Houston, Texas, he arrived at Fort Drum in December 2010. Backus deployed with his unit in March 2011 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Combat Medical Badge.
Backus is survived by a child, mother, father and brother.