George Phillips

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For the Spanish American War Medal of Honor recipient, see George Frederick Phillips (1862-1904).

George Phillips
July 14, 1926(1926-07-14) – March 14, 1945 (aged 18)
George Phillips, Medal of Honor recipients
Place of birth	Bates County, Missouri
Place of death	KIA on Iwo Jima
Allegiance	United States of America
Years of service	1945
Rank	Private
Unit	2nd Battalion 28th Marines
Battles/wars	World War II *Battle of Iwo Jima
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Private George Phillips (14 July 1926 – 14 March 1945) was a United States Marine who sacrificed his life to save the lives of fellow Marines on Iwo Jima. For giving up his life to protect others, Pvt Phillips was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

George Phillips was born in Bates County, Missouri on 14 July 1926, and worked on the railroad before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps on 25 April 1944.

During the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, Pvt Phillips sacrificed his life by smothering a hand grenade to save the lives of fellow Marines. For this action, he was awarded his nation's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor. The decoration was received by his uncle, with whom Pvt Phillips had formerly resided.

Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Pvt Phillips' remains were reinterred in Bethel Cemetery, Labadie, Missouri, in 1948.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

PRIVATE GEORGE PHILLIPS
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Second Battalion, Twenty-eight Marines, Fifth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 14 March 1945. Standing the fox-hole watch while other members of his squad rested after a night of bitter hand grenade fighting against infiltrating Japanese troops, Private Phillips was the only member of his unit alerted when an enemy hand grenade was tossed into their midst. Instantly shouting a warning, he unhesitatingly threw himself on the deadly missile, absorbing the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his own body and protecting his comrades from serious injury. Stouthearted and indomitable, Private Phillips willingly yielded his own life that his fellow Marines might carry on the relentless battle against a fanatic enemy and his superb valor and unfaltering spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN