Born in Santa Clara, California, November 19, 1906
Graduated from the Patterson, California High School, June 1923
Enrolled in the University of California, Davis September 1923
Plant Science Curriculum - Truck Crops Member Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Vice-President ASUCD, 1928-29
Picnic Day Chairman, 1929
Graduated Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, June 1929 Re-enrolled as Graduate Student, Fall Semester 1929
Married Mabel Wiesendanger, June 1929
Entered the service of the California Packing Corporation, January 1930
Stationed on the Island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii Jan-Aug 1930
Transferred to the Island of Mindanao, P. I. Sept 1930
Returned to the continental United States after Pearl Harbor Accepted position with Federal Land Bank, Berkeley, January 1942
Volunteered for special military service, ADS Washington, D. C., 29 August 1942

Military Service

MILITARY HISTORY
0916722

Active Service Assignments

COMMISSIONED Captain, Army of the United States, Corps of Engineers, 5 September 1942.
From Sep to Dec 1942; San Francisco, POE.
Dec 1942 to Jan 1943; Hq & Hq Co, Base Section No. 3, APO 923.
Jan to Feb 1943; Engineers Section, US Advanced Base,' APO929.
Mar to Aug 1943; Agricultural Officer, QM, Hq Adv Sec. USASOS, APO 928.
Sep to Sep 1943; Hq US Adv Base D, APO 929.
Sep 1943 to Mar 1944; Misc Gp, USAFFE, APO, 501; 5218 Ron Bn (SP), APO 565 & 923.
COMMISSIONED Major, AUS, Corps of Engineers, 3 October 1943.

Major Phillips was killed in action on 15 March 1944 in Mindoro, Philippines.

Decorations and Awards

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS.*
PURPLE HEART (Posthumous)
WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL.

*CITATION
ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL with One Bronze Service Star for participation in the Ground Combat Campaign.
‘Major Phillips was... an aggressive and outstanding soldier of splendid character. In recognition of his extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy from 23 October 1943 to 15 March 1944, he was awarded the DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS’.

The following copy of a letter is self-explanatory:
'Dear Mr. and Mrs. Phillips:
In the death of your son, Major Lawrence H. Phillips I have lost a gallant comrade in-arms and send you my deepest sympathy. His service under me in the Pacific was characterized by his complete devotion to our country and by giving his life in our crusade for liberty he is enshrined in the nation's glory.
Very faithfully,
(S) Douglas MacArthur
APO 500 April 10, 1945.’

Interment

Given Christian Burial by Japanese Garrison, Ahra de Ilog, P.I.
Re-interred USAF Cemetery, San Jose No. 1, Mindoro, P. I.
Final Interment, USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Luzon, P. I.

Lawrence Harold Phillips was graduated by the University of California in June 1929 with the degree Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and married Mabel Wiesendanger shortly thereafter. He entered the service of the California Packing Corporation in January 1930 and as stationed on a pineapple plantation on the Island of Oahym, Territory of Hawaii. In September 1930 he was transferred to Mindanao, Philippine Islands where he remained until December 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor). During this time, ''Mere'', (as he was known among :1.is classmates on the Davis campus of the University of California) won the confidence and respect of the natives employed on the plantation where he was general manager. This familiarity with the Islands and its people was later made· known to General MacArthur and was directly responsible for Merc’s later valorous military career.
Being forced to leave the Philippines after Pearl Harbor, 'Merc' returned to the mainland and accepted a position as appraiser for the Federal Land Bank in Berkeley, California, in January 1942. While in Washington, D. C. during July and August 1942, he was told that his Philippine experiences would be of special value to his country if related to military operations then being planned by General MacArthur and he immediately volunteered for special military service and became a member of the Army of the United States on 28 August 1942. On 4 September 1942, he was appointed and accepted a Captain's commission in the Army Engineers. On 3 October 1943 he was advanced to the rank of Major, AUS - Engineer Corps.
The following information concerning Major Phillips was obtained from a special report sent to his. family in 1946 by the authority of the Secretary of War.
‘With the promise of future Allied landing in the Philippines. Major Phillips was sent as an advance agent to the P. I. by General MacArthur to organize the various guerilla bands in the area into one fighting unit and to set up a radio station from which Japanese operations and weather reports could be sent to Headquarters in Australia. Around the middle of November 1943, Major Phillips landed in the Municipality of Paluan, Island of Mindoro, by submarine from Australia. He brought with him radio equipment, arms and ammunition for the guerrillas and a party of about twenty men.
A radio station, ISRM, ‘I shall return, MacArthur’, was established on the summit of Mt. Calavite, as was Major Phillips' Command Post. This location was very inaccessible, there being only one trail to it. Coastal watches were placed along the coast of Point Calavite to observe Manila Bay and the Japanese shipping, the Bay being very visible from this position through. field glasses though not from the mountain Command Post.
Through conferences with the different Guerilla Commanders and through contact with operatives in Manila, the Guerillas were organized into one unit and functioned as such until the death of Major Phillips.
Some time in the early months of 1944 one of Major Phillips operatives in Manila was captured by the Japanese. Under pressure of tortures, he revealed the location of the radio station, ISRM, and thus the whereabouts of Major Phillips. On 12 March 1944, the Command Post was raided. Major Phillips, W. 0. Wise, and another American Officer escaped. This officer was a First Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers who escaped from Bataan. After the raid on the Command Post, Major Phillips determined to retrieve some money which had been hidden near the road going from Abra de Ilog to Mamburao. While on this mission, and after he had swum the river, clad only in his under? wear, he met a Japanese patrol, along the road. As the patrol passed, a man in the patrol saw him and yelled ‘American, American!’ The Japanese immediately turned their machine guns on Major Phillips, killing him instantly.
The Japanese were not certain that their victim was Major Phillips as they knew there were two Americans in the area, and so would not let anyone see his face. Some of the guerilla undercover men attempted to do so but were unsuccessful. However, everyone knew it was Major Phillips when the Lieutenant was captured in Mamburao. This officer was tortured publicly with sticks and bayonets while tied to a post in the Park there. He was later taken to Batangas and was not heard from after that. The body of Major Phillips was taken to Abra de llog and turned over to Captain Sabayashi, commanding the Japanese Garrison there. This officer was a Catholic and had even rebuilt the church in Abra de llog. Major Phillips was given a public Christian and military funeral by him. Captain Sabayashi made a speech honoring him as a ‘great and gallant soldier and a worthy adversary’. Gun salutes were fired as the body was lowered into the grave. There were many flowers and a large cross made from 4 x 4 lumber was erected. On it was carved:
Maj. Lawrence H. Phillips, United States Army Killed by the Japanese Imperial Forces March 15, 1944
Major Phillips' body was re-interred at USAF Cemetery, San Jose No. 1, Mindoro, P. I., at 1600 hours, May 1S4 5, and later, at 1500 hours, 8 December 1S 4 5 he was again re-interred at USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Luzon, Philippines.