Biggs, who was from Webster City, made it out of that jungle.

He died June 26, 2022, in a care home here in his hometown, leaving behind him a legacy of heroism.

LuAnn Jackson, who is in the midst of retiring as a Veterans Affairs administrator for Hamilton County, last week presented the American Legion Post 191 — of which Biggs was long a member — with a shadow box of remembrance displaying the decorations the Webster City soldier earned while serving this country.

Biggs did three tours, according to his obituary, which translated to 25 months in active combat.

-Messenger photo by David Borer
LuAnn Jackson, who is retiring as Hamilton County Veterans Affairs administrator, center, presents the shadow box that contains the medals and awards earned by the late Tom Biggs to his brother, Gary Biggs, right. Rich Stroner, American Legion Post 191 commander is pictured left.

“During his tour he was awarded a Bronze Star, an Air Medal, three Purple Hearts (wounded three times during his tour), and an Army Commendation Medal,” Rich Stroner, American Legion Post 191 commander, said.

“The Biggs family decided to donate his awards to the Post. We in the Post decided to honor Tom and his service to our country,” Stroner said. “With the help of LuAnn Jackson and the Medals of America Company the display was created. Tom’s brother Gary was invited to the dedication ceremony.”

It was Tom Biggs’ family who identified their loved one in the photo of the battle that took place in April 1968 during a five-day patrol near Hue, according to AP archives.

Hue is a city in central Vietnam; it was the national capital from 1802 to 1945. On the day the photo was taken, a medevac helicopter was being guided to the spot by a first sergeant of A Company, 101st Airborne Division. Several soldiers were wounded.

Born on May 10, 1949, Biggs would have been nearing his 19th birthday when he was wounded. The photographer who took the photo, Art Greenspon, was in his mid-20s.