George Frederick Phillips
Encyclopedia
George Frederick Phillips, (March 8, 1862 – June 4, 1904) was a U.S. Navy
Machinist First Class who received the Medal of Honor
for his actions during the Spanish-American War
in 1899.
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 , 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.
Citation:
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Machinist First Class who received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his actions during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
in 1899.
Biography
George Phillips went to Galveston, TexasGalveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
where he joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. During the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
he was aboard ship that made its way to the entrance to the harbor at Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
. There, the , a 3362-ton collier, was supplying coal to U.S. warships. On June 3, 1898, in a daring attempt to bottle up the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
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
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where he was interred in the Fernhill Cemetery
Fernhill Cemetery
Fernhill Cemetery, originally known as the Rural Cemetery at the time it opened in 1848, is located at 200 Westmorland Road in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada...
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, Coles Island, New Brunswick, Canada. 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.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Spanish–American War