George Frederick Phillips

Infobox Military Person
name= George Frederick Phillips
born= birth date|1862|3|8
died= death date and age|1904|6|4|1862|3|8
placeofbirth= Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
placeofdeath= Cambridge, Massachusetts
placeofburial= Fernhill Cemetery Saint John, New Brunswick


caption=Machinist First Class George Frederick Phillips
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=
serviceyears=
rank= Machinist First Class
commands=
unit= USS "Merrimac"
battles= Spanish-American War
awards= Medal of Honor
laterwork=

George Frederick Phillips, (March 8, 1862 – June 4, 1904) was a U.S. Navy Machinist First Class who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Spanish-American War in 1899.

Biography

George Phillips went to Galveston, Texas where he joined the United States Navy. During the Spanish-American War he was aboard ship that made its way to the entrance to the harbor at Santiago de Cuba. There, the USS "Merrimac", a 3362-ton collier, was supplying coal to U.S. warships. On June 3, 1898, in a daring attempt to bottle up the Spanish cruiser squadron, the "Merrimac" was scuttled inside the entrance of Santiago Harbor. Under heavy fire from the Spanish shore batteries, Machinist First Class Phillips displayed extraordinary heroism throughout this operation.

In recognition of his valor, on November 2, 1899 he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest United States military decoration.

George Phillips died in 1904 at the age of 42 in Cambridge, Massachusetts; his body was returned home to Canada where he was interred in the Fernhill Cemetery in his hometown of Saint John, New Brunswick.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Machinist First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: March 9, 1864, Boston, Mass. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 529, November 2, 1899.

Citation:

:In connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. Merrimac at the entrance to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba 2 June 1898. Despite heavy fire from the Spanish shore batteries, Phillips displayed extraordinary heroism throughout this operation.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Spanish-American War

References

:DANFS
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-p/g-philps.htm Chief Machinist George F. Phillips, USN, (1862-1904)] , "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships", Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy.

Persondata
NAME= Phillips, George Frederick
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= March 8, 1862
PLACE OF BIRTH= Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
DATE OF DEATH= June 4, 1904
PLACE OF DEATH= Cambridge, Massachusetts