LCpl Steven Phillips (on left) taken 11/20/05 during Operation Steel Curtain.
Posted on 02/11/2006 8:44:45 PM PST by Flora McDonald
Lance Cpl. Steven Phillips was a Sept. 11 warrior. Once the twin towers fell and the Pentagon was struck, he gave up a comfortable life in Chesapeake, Va., and his dreams of one day flying into space, and joined the Marines.
He died Tuesday near Qaim, Iraq, one month before he was to return home for good. The Marines who knocked on the family's door explained that Phillips had been driving a Humvee and swerved to avoid something in the road. The Humvee rolled over an embankment and crushed Phillips's chest, killing him. No one else in the vehicle was injured.
"He was a very dedicated, compassionate person," his mother, Paulette, said quietly yesterday of her only child. "He believed very passionately in what he was doing."
"After 9/11, he felt the need to do more, to make sure the war didn't come here on our soil," she said. "He felt sure it would if more men didn't volunteer to fight over there."
At home, along Jay Phillips Hill Road, Phillips's relatives said they're slowly coming to grips with what happened. "We're saying that the Lord must have needed him. Whether in a Humvee or standing right next to us here, it was just his time," Paulette Phillips said. "We loved him, and we'll miss him. But we're very proud of him."
Phillips's body is being flown back to Pennsylvania for burial not far from Jay Phillips Hill Road.
"He's coming home," his mother said, her voice beginning to quaver. "He's coming home to stay."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Hero.
God Bless this wonderful man and his loving family.
Prayers for him and his loved ones.
Fought for all of us that the world may be a better place. Semper Fi.
Prayers up for this heroes family.
Prayers for the heroes and their families that are waiting to return.
India Company
Lord, Bless LCpl Steven Phillips, and comfort his mother, Paulette, and all who knew and loved him. His service and sacrifice have made this blessed land and its people safer.
I sit here with frozen fingers unable to type the words that will fully reflect my thankfulness for men such as LCpl Steven Phillips' service and sacrifice to this country. The sorrow of the loss breaks our hearts.
May God forever bless his family. He is surely blessing these United States of America with courageous patriotic men and women as these serving now.
Yikes!
Oh, these types of stories are particularly sad. God bless this dear boy and his family.
My daughter got a call from her boyfriend yesterday. He was in Iraq for a year, but has now been moved to Kuwait. He is coming home to the states in early April. We think that at this point he is safe, but you never know.
You are right. They aren't safely home til those boots are standing on U.S. soil. I know you all are counting the days and hours.
Howdy, ma'am...good to see you again. I will continue to pray for your son's safety until he is back home where he belongs.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in Owen-Neely Funeral Home, Blacksville, W.Va., where services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, February 17, with the Rev. Kathy Higgins officiating. Interment will follow in Blacksville Cemetery.
If you have questions, please call the funeral home at 304-432-8204. You may sign the online guest register at www.tennantfuneralhome.com.
Blacksville is about 65 miles from Pittsburgh.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.