July Bandstand Flag Notice – Robert G. Phillips

Robert G. Phillips

Robert G. Phillips

July 6, 1923 – January 1, 2007

WWII and the Korean Conflict

United States Navy

Robert “Bob” was raised in Oskaloosa. Following graduation from Oskaloosa High School in 1943, he and four other high school friends enlisted in the Navy in June 1943. They were all shipped to Farragut, ID, for basic training before being deployed to different assignments. He served in the Navy during World War II where he was on a Picket Boat on the Brisbane River in Australia, a Landing Ship Tank (LST) off the New Guinea coast, and on the USS Topeka (CL-67), a light cruiser in the South Pacific. After the Japanese surrender, he was on a destroyer patrolling the coast of Japan as part of the occupational forces until being discharged in April 1946. When he returned home, he remained in the reserves and went to electronics school in Chicago on a G.I. bill.

Bob worked for Stitely Radio Electric until he was notified to report for duty to serve in the Korean War in August 1951, where he worked on a supply ship off the shores of Japan and Korea until he was released in November 1951.

After returning to Oskaloosa, he began his 30-year career with Northwestern Bell, and in March of 1954, he married Pauline Rogers, who he met while training in Des Moines. They lived in Oskaloosa, were happily married for 53 years, and had two children, Jack and Carol.