World War II Honoree

Fred M. Phillips

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Findlay, Ohio

Honored By

Pauline, Jack and Ann Phillips

Relationship

Wife, Son and Daughter

ENTERED THE UNITED STATES ARMY IN 1941, ORIGINALLY STATIONED IN HAWAII WITH THE 40TH INFANTRY DIVISION. HE ATTENDED OFFICER'S CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS) AT FT. BENNING, GEORGIA AND WAS COMMISSIONED 2ND LIEUTENANT. HE WAS THEN ORDERED TO DUTY IN EUROPE WITH THE 90TH INFANTRY DIVISION OF PATTON'S THIRD ARMY. HE EXHIBITED GREAT VALOR AND LEADERSHIP IN SOME OF THE HARDEST FOUGHT BATTLES IN EUROPE-THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY AND THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HE AND HIS TROOPS COVERED EXTENSIVE TERRAIN ON FOOT-FROM THE COAST OF FRANCE TO CZECHOSLOVAKIA. IN EVERY SITUATION, HE PRACTICED TWO CENTRAL PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY DISTINGUISHED THE U.S. MILITARY: FIERCE AND EFFECTIVE FIGHTING TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY AS WELL AS RESPECT AND PROTECTION OF NON-COMBATANTS. IN RECOGNITION OF HIS SUPERIOR SERVICE, HE WAS AWARDED TWO SILVER STARS, BRONZE STAR, COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, AND FIVE BATTLE STARS. DURING THE COURSE OF THE WAR, HE ALSO RECEIVED TWO PURPLE HEARTS FOR THE SERIOUS WOUNDS THAT HE SUFFERED AND WHICH CAUSED HIM PAIN FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. IN 2001, HE WAS RECOGNIZED IN A CEREMONY IN FINDLAY BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT FOR HIS COURAGEOUS ROLE IN THE NORMANDY INVASION AND THE LIBERATION OF FRANCE.