During the Battle of Iwo Jima, the night of March 14, 1945, Private Phillips was standing guard as the other Marines in his unit were resting. A Japanese soldier tossed a hand grenade toward the group. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Phillips sacrificed his life by smothering the blast of the grenade with his own body to save the lives of his fellow Marines. For this action, he was awarded his nation's highest military decoration – the Medal of Honor. The decoration was received by his uncle, with whom Pvt. Phillips had formerly resided.
Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Pvt Phillips' remains were reinterred in Bethel Cemetery, Labadie, Missouri, in 1948.
PRIVATE GEORGE PHILLIPS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Second Battalion, Twenty-eight Marines, Fifth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 14 March 1945. Standing the fox-holewatch while other members of his squad rested after a night of bitter hand grenade fighting against infiltrating Japanese troops, Private Phillips was the only member of his unit alerted when an enemy hand grenade was tossed into their midst. Instantly shouting a warning, he unhesitatingly threw himself on the deadly missile, absorbing the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his own body and protecting his comrades from serious injury. Stouthearted and indomitable, Private Phillips willingly yielded his own life that his fellow Marines might carry on the relentless battle against a fanatic enemy and his superb valor and unfaltering spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
"Private George Phillips, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
. Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-02-20.
External linksedit
Media related to George Phillips (USMC) at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
george, phillips, usmc, private, george, phillips, july, 1926, march, 1945, united, states, marine, posthumously, awarded, medal, honor, sacrificing, life, save, lives, fellow, marines, jima, throwing, himself, over, activated, hand, grenade, george, phillipsg. Private George Phillips July 14 1926 March 14 1945 was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his own life to save the lives of fellow Marines on Iwo Jima by throwing himself over an activated hand grenade George PhillipsGeorge Phillips Medal of Honor recipientsBorn 1926 07 14 July 14 1926Rich Hill MissouriDiedMarch 14 1945 1945 03 14 aged 18 Iwo Jima Volcano Islands Japanese EmpirePlace of burialInitially the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima Reinterred in Bethel Cemetery Labadie MissouriAllegiance United States of AmericaService wbr branch United States Marine CorpsYears of service1944 45RankPrivateUnit2nd Battalion 28th Marines 5th Marine DivisionBattles warsWorld War II Pacific War Japan campaign Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign Battle of Iwo Jima AwardsMedal of Honor Purple Heart Contents 1 Biography 2 Medal of Honor citation 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBiography editGeorge Phillips was born in Bates County Missouri on July 14 1926 and worked on the railroad before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17 on April 25 1944 During the Battle of Iwo Jima the night of March 14 1945 Private Phillips was standing guard as the other Marines in his unit were resting A Japanese soldier tossed a hand grenade toward the group Realizing the gravity of the situation Phillips sacrificed his life by smothering the blast of the grenade with his own body to save the lives of his fellow Marines For this action he was awarded his nation s highest military decoration the Medal of Honor The decoration was received by his uncle with whom Pvt Phillips had formerly resided Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima Pvt Phillips remains were reinterred in Bethel Cemetery Labadie Missouri in 1948 Medal of Honor citation editThe President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to PRIVATE GEORGE PHILLIPSUNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE for service as set forth in the following CITATION For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Second Battalion Twenty eight Marines Fifth Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands on 14 March 1945 Standing the fox hole watch while other members of his squad rested after a night of bitter hand grenade fighting against infiltrating Japanese troops Private Phillips was the only member of his unit alerted when an enemy hand grenade was tossed into their midst Instantly shouting a warning he unhesitatingly threw himself on the deadly missile absorbing the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his own body and protecting his comrades from serious injury Stouthearted and indomitable Private Phillips willingly yielded his own life that his fellow Marines might carry on the relentless battle against a fanatic enemy and his superb valor and unfaltering spirit of self sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the United States Naval Service He gallantly gave his life for his country S HARRY S TRUMANSee also edit nbsp Biography portal List of Medal of Honor recipients List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Battle of Iwo JimaReferences edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps Private George Phillips USMC Who s Who in Marine Corps History History Division United States Marine Corps Retrieved 2007 10 11 Pvt George Phillips Medal of Honor 1945 2 28 4 Iwo Jima Medal of Honor citation Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor United States Marine Corps Archived from the original on 2007 02 20 External links edit nbsp Media related to George Phillips USMC at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Phillips USMC amp oldid 1224583375, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
