Philips, William Grigaby

William Philips

Vietnam Veteran Memorial Fund

Quick Facts

Significance:

A 302 or A 303, US Army Special Forces

Place of Birth:

Rutherford County, Tennessee

Date of Birth:

July 2, 1943

Place of Death:

Binh Long province, South Vietnam

Date of Death:

August 3, 1967

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

William Grigaby Phillips was born on July 2, 1943 in Rutherford County, Tennessee with his home of record being Xenia, Greene County, Ohio. He attended Belmont College and was ordained as a minister.

Phillips served as a Sergeant in the US Army Special Forces in either unit A 302 or A 303 as a Medical Specialist and began his tour in Vietnam on March 18, 1967. Phillips was killed in action on August 3, 1967 from small arms fire in Binh Long province, South Vietnam. He was posthumously awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart.

According to records, Phillips proved himself as a commander while on a reconnaissance mission when he came across a North Vietnam company camp by Ton Le Chon with his platoon. Phillips guided the platoon through a gap, though he was mortally wounded during the maneuver.

Phillips is honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. on panel 24E, line 74 and is buried at Stones River National Cemetery in plot Q-6751.