World War II Honoree

Wendell M. Phillips

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Murphysboro, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

COMMISSIONED AFTER ATTENDING THE FIELD ARTILLERY OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS AN OFFICER ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1942. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON OCTOBER 22, 1942 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS TO SUPPORT OPERATION TORCH. EVENTUALLY SERVED AS A COMPANY COMMANDER WITH THE 405TH ENGINEER SERVICE BATTALION AND FOUGHT THROUGH THE ALGERIA-FRENCH MOROCCO, TUNISIA, SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE AND RHINELAND CAMPAIGNS. EARNED A SILVER STAR MEDAL (PRESENTED BY MAJOR GENERAL TRUSCOTT IN A FIELD AWARDS CEREMONY), COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER AND 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM THE SERVICE AS A CAPTAIN ON OCTOBER 16, 1946 AT CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA.