Chief Machinist (?) George F. Phillips, USN, (1862-1904)
George Frederick Phillips was born on 8 March 1862 in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. He enlisted in the US Navy from Galveston, Texas and served as a Machinist First Class in the collier Merrimac during the Spanish-American War. Phillips remained with her as one of eight volunteer crew members when Rear Admiral William T. Sampson ordered Merrimac sunk to block the entrance of Santiago Harbor, Cuba. On the night of 2-3 June 1898, during the courageous attempt to execute this mission, Merrimac's steering gear was disabled by enemy gunfire, and she sank without obstructing navigation. Her crewmen were rescued by the Spanish and made prisoners-of-war. After the Battle of Santiago de Cuba destroyed the Spanish fleet a month later, Phillips and his shipmates were released. For his "extraordinary heroism" during this operation, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
George F. Phillips may have remained in the Navy after the Spanish-American War, since one published source on the Medal of Honor states that his highest rank was Chief Machinist (a warrant officer rank). However, no mention of him could be located in any Navy Register or Navy Reserve Register from 1899 to 1957. The same source reports that he died on 4 June 1904 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is buried at Fernhill Cemetery, St. John, New Brunswick.
Medal o Honor Citation
Rank and organization: Machinist First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 9 March 1864, Boston, Mass. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 529, 2 November 1899. Citation: In connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. Merrimac at the entrance to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba 2 June 1898. Despite heavy fire from the Spanish shore batteries, Phillips displayed extraordinary heroism throughout this operation.
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