County of tombstone: Franklin County
Location of tombstone: MO-T & Loretto Ridge Dr., Bethel Cemetery, 2 miles S. of Labadie
"Marine Corps League Detachment Named After Franklin County's Only Medal of Honor Recipient Help Today's Injured Marines
"Earlier this summer a group of Marine Corps League members gathered on a hill at Bethel Cemetery in Labadie for a special ceremony to honor one of their own - Marine Corps Pvt. George Phillips, who grew up in Franklin County and who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of the other Marines in his unit when he threw himself on a Japanese hand grenade March 14, 1945, at Iwo Jima.
"Many people in this area know Pvt. Phillips as "Junior O'Brien." That was the name he went by after he was orphaned and went to live with his uncle and aunt, James and Lillian (Phillips) O'Brien of Labadie.
"The Marine Corps League members who honored Phillips July 14 on his birthday by sprinkling sand from Iwo Jima on his grave, also honor him every day through their detachment, which is named for him.
"The Pvt. George Phillips Detachment No. 1214 was chartered in October 2005 with 25 to 30 Marines, many from as far back as World War II. Today the detachment is approaching 100 members.
"The detachment covers western St. Louis County and Franklin County - Washington, Union, New Haven and St. Clair.
"The League members decided to name their detachment after Pvt. Phillips because they wanted to honor a great Marine, said Commandant Gene Richter, of Grover, who served in the Korean War.
"There are five Marine Corps League detachments in the St. Louis region. The others are all named for their location - St. Charles, St. Louis, South St. Louis and Gateway City detachments.
"We thought it would be unique to have the name of a noteworthy Marine," Richter remarked.
"The men received permission to name the detachment after Pvt. Phillips from one of his last living descendants, Arthur O'Brien of Union.
"The group grew its membership by running news stories in The Missourian.
"Members are both active duty and retired or discharged Marines. Navy corpsmen, the medical branch of the Navy that serves the Marines, also are permitted to join, said Richter.
"We encourage all Marines who have been honorably discharged to belong," he commented.
"The purpose of the Marine Corps League is to "join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and promoting the interests of the U.S. Marine Corps," according to its mission statement.
"In other words, the League detachments lead a variety of activities to help Marines, Richter, who has been in the Marine Corps League for over 50 years, explained. One of the group's most proud duties is to raise money for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund (www.semperfifund. org) to benefit injured Marines and their families.
"In the last year and a half, the Pvt. Phillips detachment has raised over $20,000 for the fund, said Richter. Three separate times members have stood outside the Dierbergs and Wal-Mart stores in Wildwood, Chesterfield and West St. Louis County.
"We dress up in uniform and solicit funds," Richter said. "Sometimes kids come up to give us part of their allowances."
"The Pvt. Phillips detachment also has helped raise over $250,000 for the Semper Fi Fund by teaming up with the other St. Louis Marine Corps League detachments to organize golf outings the last two years. The next is being held this weekend, Sunday, Aug. 26, but even with a $300 entry fee, the event has been sold out for over a month.
"This year the Pvt. Phillips detachment will be able to present a check for $8,000 to the Semper Fi Fund. The money will go primarily to help Marines injured through the latest U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Richter said the need for the Fund is great because government funds only go so far.
"When these Marines come back for being wounded, the government pays for one family member to visit them in the hospital, and that visit is limited to two or three days," he said. "If the Marine has a family with kids, plus his or her mom and dad, who all want to come, they have to pay their own way, but this (Semper Fi) Fund helps pay for that."
"The Semper Fi Fund also covers the expense for installing, if necessary, wheelchair ramps at a Marine's home, other convenience items, even a handicap-accessible vehicle.
"Marine Corps League across the country - with the help of the American people - are all doing their part, Richter noted. Overall the League has raised over $10 million in just two years.
"And 98 percent of all that's raised goes straight to the Fund," Richter pointed out. "Only 2 percent goes to pay the overhead expenses."
"In addition to raising money for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, the Pvt. Phillips detachment also donates funds to other related causes.
"We will make a donation to individuals who are having financial or medical problems," said Richter. "For example, we donated to a member of the Missouri National Guard who was sent to Iraq and whose baby was born with heart trouble."
"The Pvt. Phillips detachment also paid the expenses to send a boy from Pacific to Missouri Boys State.
"We have a Benevolent Committee who makes all the decisions on these requests," Richter said.
"The Pvt. Phillips detachment takes part in parades and also ready to provide military honors should a fellow Marine pass away.
"Our duty is to help Marines," said Richter. "This is a band of brothers . . . Once a Marine, Always a Marine."
"The Pvt. Phillips detachment meets the third Tuesday of every month at the American Legion Post 208 Hall on Old Sulpher Springs Road in Manchester. Meetings begin at 1930 hours (or 7:30 p.m.) and typically include a guest speaker.
"At a meeting in July, the speaker was a retired Marine who was employed by the Veterans Administration for 25 years who spoke to members about military benefits, which many Marines may not realize they are eligible for.
"The members also get together for social events. Just a few weeks ago they held a family picnic open to all Marines.
"You have to be a Marine to understand," said Richter, "but we all enjoy each other's company. We've all had similar experiences, we know how each other is feeling.
"It's not like other branches (of the military). It's different. We hang together - this brotherhood is unbelievable."
"For more information on the Pvt. George Phillips Detachment, people can call Richter at 636-458-4168, visit the group's Web site at www.mcleague.com/mdp/userpages/PVT_GEORGE_PHILLIPS-1015.php or stop by a meeting." ~ The Missourian, By: Karen Cernich, Aug 24, 2007