Samuel H. Phillips, III

Description:

Chief Warrant Officer Samuel Henry Phillips, III, United States Army, Retired, deceased, Van Buren. Sam graduated Old Miss and was commissioned in Field Artillery. He entered active duty in 1967 and served a combat tour with the 1st Cavalry Division, Vietnam where he logged more than one thousand two hundred hours of combat flying. Sam’s awards include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal and fifteen Air Medals, one with “V” device for valor, the Army Commendation Medal and two Army Achievement Medals. He was placed on the retired rolls April 2003.

Chief Warrant Officer Samuel H. Phillips Silver Star narrative reads: “For gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. First Lieutenant Phillips distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 8 February 1969, while serving as an aircraft commander of a command and control helicopter during a combat mission. When a call was received for demolitions with which to blast a landing zone so several seriously wounded soldiers could be extracted from a contact area, First Lieutenant Phillips immediately volunteered to deliver the explosives. While hovering over the embattled unit his helicopter came under intense hostile ground fired and the crew chief was wounded, but First Lieutenant Phillips remained until the supplies were dropped. He then flew to a fire support base and treated the wounds of his crew chief. Upon leaving that the medical evacuation helicopters could not land due to the hostile ground fire, First Lieutenant Phillips, with complete disregard for his own safety, returned to the embattled area and once again exposed himself to the enemy fire to evacuate the seriously wounded soldiers. His gallant action is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.”

More Info:

Chief Warrant Officer Samuel Henry Phillips, III, United States Army, Retired, deceased, Van Buren. Sam graduated Old Miss and was commissioned in Field Artillery.  He entered active duty in 1967 and served a combat tour with the 1st Cavalry Division, Vietnam where he logged more than one thousand two hundred hours of combat flying.  Sam’s awards include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal and fifteen Air Medals, one with “V” device for valor, the Army Commendation Medal and two Army Achievement Medals.  He was placed on the retired rolls April 2003.