Mr. McCaig

Tom McCaig died April 21, 2008, at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. He was 73.

Funeral services are April 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Labby Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in DeRidder, La., with the Revs. Lindsey Burns and Doyle Cooper officiating. Burial will follow at Beauregard Cemetery in DeRidder.

Mr. McCaig was a native of DeRidder. He was a graduate of McNeese State University with a degree in geology, and a graduate of the Command and General Staff College of the U.S. Army.

He retired as a lieutenant colonel after 21 years of service in the U.S. Army. He served two tours in Vietnam and Korea.

Medals earned during Mr. McCaig's military career include Legion of Merit with "V," Bronze Star Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Medal and numerous medals and awards from the South Vietnamese government.

Mr. McCaig also was a retired defense consultant with BDM at Fort Polk, La.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of DeRidder and was baptized in June 2002.

Mr. McCaig was a charter member of the "Ole Dragons," a new DeRidder High School athletic booster club.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Carol McCaig, of DeRidder; two sons, Thomas Patrick McCaig, of Waco, and Christopher Lee McCaig, of Midlothian, Va.; sister, Joy McCaig O'Neal, of DeRidder; and seven grandchildren, Caleb, Carol Ann, Stormy, Jason, Caitlin, Kristen and Caroline.