World War II Honoree

Paul D. Phillips

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Denver, Colorado

Honored By

Rita Anne Ruzicka Phillips

Relationship

Wife

GRADUATED WEST POINT CLASS OF 1940 ASSIGNED AS AN ARTILLERY COMMANDER WITH THE VISAYAN-MINDANAO FORCE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WAS A PRISONER OF WAR BY THE JAPANESE ARMY FROM MAY 19, 1942 TO AUGUST 15, 1945. WAS ABOARD 2 HELL SHIPS THAT WERE SUNK BY AMERICAN FORCES. FIRST IN SUBIC BAY, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON DECEMBER 15, 1944, SECOND ON JANUARY 2, 1945 AT TAIWAN (FORMOSA). HELD PRISONER IN JAPAN, KOREA AND RELEASED FROM CAPTIVITY IN MANCHURIA BY RUSSIAN FORCES. PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL AT END OF WAR, EVENTUALLY ATTAINED THE RANK OF BRIGADIER GENERAL.