Alphonso Backus was born April 13, 1923 in Florence, South Carolina, the son of Henry and Mary E. (Bacote) Backus. His father was a carpenter, who worked for a house building company. His mother Mary worked as a servant for a private family. Alphonso had four siblings: Iola, James, Hennie, and Vandross. In 1930 the family, together with grandparents Julius and Eliza Backus, was living on Lucas Street in Florence, South Carolina.
By 1940 Alphonso and Vandross were the only two children left at home. They, with their parents Henry and Mary, were living at 814 N. Thompson Street in Florence.
Not long after the United States entered World War II, Alphonso registered for the draft. He was working at a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Witherbee, South Carolina, and named his father Henry as the "person who will always know your address." He was described as 5' 9"tall, weighed 168 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair, and a black complexion.
Alphonso enlisted in the U.S. Army on January 14, 1943 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He stated that he had finished two years of high school, and his civil occupation was listed as "semi-skilled warehousing, storekeeping, handling, loading, unloading, etc." He was described as 5' 10" tall, and weighed 155 pounds.
In April of 1944 Alphonso was admitted to a military hospital, for an illness "in the line of duty." He had been serving in the Chemical Warfare Service. He was discharged from the hospital and the Army on July 18, 1944, having served one year and two months.
While he was in the Army, Alphonso married Earline Wardy on May 11, 1943. She was born August 30, 1924 in Braddock, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Benjamin and Henrietta (Richardson) Wardy.
By 1950 the couple had settled in Brooklyn, New York at 33 Nostrand Avenue, Apt. 6b. They had five children: Patricia, Alphonso Jr., Aneitha, Tyrone, and Alise.
Alsphonso was working 40 hours a week as a time keeper at the Navy Yard, which continued for nine years.
In 1953 Alphonso went to work as a carpenter for the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in Brooklyn. He had reached his adult height of 5' 10 1/2" tall, and weighed 190 pounds. He seems to have worked there as needed up through 1962 when the job was terminated due to permanent shut down. At that time he was living at 425 Flushing Avenue.
Alphonso's last residence was in Brooklyn, New York. He died on December 15, 1993, and was buried March 8, 1994 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com, US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; US, WWII Draft Card Young Men, 1940-1947; 1940 and 1950 Censuses; US, WWII Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946; US, WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954; US Dept. of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010; Brooklyn NY, US, Bethlehem Steel Shipyard Employment Cards, 1908-1965; US, Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current.
By 1940 Alphonso and Vandross were the only two children left at home. They, with their parents Henry and Mary, were living at 814 N. Thompson Street in Florence.
Not long after the United States entered World War II, Alphonso registered for the draft. He was working at a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Witherbee, South Carolina, and named his father Henry as the "person who will always know your address." He was described as 5' 9"tall, weighed 168 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair, and a black complexion.
Alphonso enlisted in the U.S. Army on January 14, 1943 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He stated that he had finished two years of high school, and his civil occupation was listed as "semi-skilled warehousing, storekeeping, handling, loading, unloading, etc." He was described as 5' 10" tall, and weighed 155 pounds.
In April of 1944 Alphonso was admitted to a military hospital, for an illness "in the line of duty." He had been serving in the Chemical Warfare Service. He was discharged from the hospital and the Army on July 18, 1944, having served one year and two months.
While he was in the Army, Alphonso married Earline Wardy on May 11, 1943. She was born August 30, 1924 in Braddock, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Benjamin and Henrietta (Richardson) Wardy.
By 1950 the couple had settled in Brooklyn, New York at 33 Nostrand Avenue, Apt. 6b. They had five children: Patricia, Alphonso Jr., Aneitha, Tyrone, and Alise.
Alsphonso was working 40 hours a week as a time keeper at the Navy Yard, which continued for nine years.
In 1953 Alphonso went to work as a carpenter for the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in Brooklyn. He had reached his adult height of 5' 10 1/2" tall, and weighed 190 pounds. He seems to have worked there as needed up through 1962 when the job was terminated due to permanent shut down. At that time he was living at 425 Flushing Avenue.
Alphonso's last residence was in Brooklyn, New York. He died on December 15, 1993, and was buried March 8, 1994 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com, US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; US, WWII Draft Card Young Men, 1940-1947; 1940 and 1950 Censuses; US, WWII Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946; US, WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954; US Dept. of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010; Brooklyn NY, US, Bethlehem Steel Shipyard Employment Cards, 1908-1965; US, Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current.