Brian J. Backus served in the 10th Mountain Division, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, Blackhawk Company. He grew up in Harbor Beach, graduated from high school in 2008, joined the US Army in 2010, and became a Combat Medic. Known as a kind and adventurous person who loved backpacking and jogging in the forest, he kept his spirits up through hardship. On June 18, 2011, during a patrol in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, the patrol was ambushed and seven soldiers, including Backus, were injured. He refused to give instructions on treating himself until his six injured fellow soldiers were treated, and only after they were stabilized did he begin to explain how to treat his own wounds. His injuries were too severe for his life to be saved, but all six of the treated soldiers survived. Backus was killed in action in Kandahar Province at age 21, leaving behind his son, Jack, who was 2 1/2 years old when he died.