PHILLIPS, William Thomas, Jr., St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
File prepared by D.N. Pardue and submitted by Inez Bridges Tate.
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Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives
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From "St. Helena Vets Remember World War II: Personal Interviews
With World War II Vets", published by St. Helena Historical
Association, 1995.  Compiled and edited by Inez Bridges Tate and
reprinted with permission.

WILLIAM THOMAS PHILLIPS, JR.
August 12, 1922 - February 5, 1944

      William (Billy) Thomas Phillips, Jr., was born in Tangi-

pahoa.  The family moved to New Orleans when he was small and 

this is where he started school.  They moved back to the Pine

Ridge Community in Ward 6 of St. Helena Parish in 1931 to operate

a dairy farm.  Billy entered school in Tangipahoa Elementary and

then went to Kentwood High School.  As was the case with young

people reared on a farm, he had chores assigned before and after

school and during the summer.  Life was not all work and no play.

He had an outgoing personality and enjoyed the typical activities 

for the area such as fishing, swimming in Beaver Creek and play-

ing ball with the neighborhood friends.

     Billy was in his senior year in high school when Pearl

Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941.  Wanting to be involved,

he dropped out of school and enlisted in the United States

Marine Corps on January 5, 1942.  He was sent to San Diego for

boot camp.  During his six weeks training, he slept in one of the

tents that had been placed on surrounding hills to house the

sudden influx of men from all over our country.

     After completing boot camp, he went to Camp Pendleton for

tank training.  Most of his advanced training took place at Camp

Pendleton or near-by camps in California, but he was sent to

Quantico, Virginia for a three weeks stabilizing course.  During

those three weeks, he had an opportunity to tour Washington, D.C.

     Lawrence Phillips tells of seeing Billy in California when

both were receiving training.

     Billy became a weapons instructor with the rank of corporal,

but he wanted to go overseas.  He saw many of the men he knew

and trained being sent and he felt like he should be with them.

Finally, after several requests, he was granted permission.  He

was given a two weeks leave before going overseas, and for the

first time since enlisting, he had a chance to go home and be

with his family and friends.

     Billy was a member of the Fourth Marine Division, Company B,

Fourth Tank Battalion.  He served in the Pacific and was taking

part in an amphibious assault on Roi-Namur in the Marshall

Islands when he was wounded on February 1, 1944.  He died four

days later aboard the Hospital Ship Solace.  He was, at the time

of his death, twenty-one years old and had served in the Marine

Corps for twenty-five months.

     Billy was the first local boy returned home from overseas

for burial.  The funeral services were conducted by the American

Legion Post 187 at Port Hudson National Cemetery.  A letter from

his commanding officer described him as "a fine marine and an

excellent ordnance man, well liked by his fellow man."

     His sister, Mrs. Clarence E. Speed (Anna), said as he was

preparing to leave home for service, his dad told him to write

home at least once a week.  This he did.  These letters were 

kept and are now in the possession of his brother John.  Anna

said often the letters were short, but he faithfully wrote each

week.

     The Purple Heart, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the

World War Victory Medal were awarded to hims posthumously.

- - - - -

Newspaper Clippings:

18 Feb. 1944

WM. T. PHILLIPS
DIED OF WOUNDS
RECEIVED IN ACTION

Cpl. William T. Phillips, Jr.,
U.S.M.C., son of Mr. and Mrs.
William T. Phillips, Sr., of the 
Sixth Ward of St. Helena Parish,
died of wounds received in action
in the South Pacivic war zone.  His
parents received this sad news
from the War Department on Tuesday 
of this week.

Cpl. Phillips, Jr., was 21 years
of age and had been in the Marine
Corps for two years.  He was a 
member of the 4th Tank Battalion,
4th Marine Division.


28 April 1944

PHILLIPS FAMILY TO
RECEIVE PURPLE HEART
AWARD FOR HERO SON

Mr. and Mrs. William T. Phillips
of the Sixth Ward of St. Helena
parish, has just received the Pur-
ple Heart citation for military
merit and for wounds received in
action by their son, Cpl. William
T. Phillips, Jr., which action re-
sulted in his death on February 5,
1944, on the U.S.S. Solace in the
Southwest Pacific.

The citation reads:
"The United States of America"
"To All who shall see these pre-
sents, greetings!
"This is to certify that the Presi-
dent of the United States of Amer-
ica, Pursuant to Authority vested
in him by Congress.
"Has awarded the Purple Heart
"Established by General George
Washington at Newberg, New
York, August 7, 1782.
"To Cpl. William T. Phillips, U.
S. Marine Corps.
"For Military Merit, for wounds
received in action resulting in his
death February 5, 1944.  Given un-
der my hand in the City of Wash-
ington, 29th day of March, 1944.
"A.A. Vandergrift, Lt. Gen. USMC
Frank Knox, Secretary of Navy"

In a letter from 1st Lt. R.F. 
Scaholtz, Commanding Officer, U.
S. Marines, to Cpl. Phillips parents
dated February 15th, he stated that
Cpl. Phillips was an ordnance cor-
poral, a fine marine, tanker, and
excellent ordnance man and well
liked by his fellowmen.  He also 
stated that all the officers and men
of Cpl. Phillips' company attended
the funeral.

The Phillips family has not re-
ceived the Purple Heart Medal but
it is scheduled to arrive within a
few days.

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