World War II Honoree

Ralph Donald Phillips

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lancaster, Ohio

Honored By

Edward Phillips

Relationship

Brother

INFANTRY RIFLEMAN AND LIGHT MACHINE GUNNER. LANDED AT OMAHA BEACH. SAW ACTION IN ARDENNES WOODS, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPEAN CAMPAIGNS. WOUNDED TWICE. AWARDED 2 PURPLE HEARTS AND BRONZE STAR. CAPTURED BY GERMAN SOLDIERS AT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. THE GERMAN COMMANDER ORDERED HIS MEN TO SHOOT HIM, BUT HE OUTWITTED AND OUTRAN THEM. HE MADE AN ESCAPE BY RUNNING FROM HIS CAPTORS. SPRINTED FOR THE WOODS WITH BULLETS BLAZING ALL AROUND HIM. RAN NONSTOP FOR 10 MILES UNTIL HE CAME UPON HIS OWN OUTFIT. WHEN HE RETURNED WITH A PLATOON, THEY WERE ALL GONE. AFTER THE WAR HE RETURNED HOME.