Instead of rescue, they were greeted with bullets. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. One of Phils co-workers at Kesling Middle School states he never even heard about the incident until he was speaking to Phillips wife Cecile (Matt Fritz 1). The smells were too foul. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. There is a problem with your email/password. Phone & Email; All Addresses (1) Family (4) Social; Court (2) And More; Failed to report flower. pictures and interview clips of the real Contact us Discount, Discount Code Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Phil eventually found himself at Rokuroshi where he was finally released from on September 16, 1945. THEY KNEW ENOUGH NOT TO EAT RAW SHARK MEAT, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO ENJOY A BLOODY MEAL OF SHARK LIVER.. They knew enough not to eat raw shark meat, but they were able to enjoy a bloody meal of shark liver. Lt. Russell Allen Phillips This quiet, gentle-tempered Indianan was Louie's pilot, roommate and best friend. Want more right now? He was known for his calm, cool, and quiet character.The tail number is unknown for the B-24D Green Hornet, which was ditched and lost at sea on 27 May 1943 in the Pacific. He was sent back to the camp for a period of time before they invited him back to the radio station. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. On November 7, 1941, Phil enlisted in the Air Corps near his home at Fort Benjamin Harrison during his engagement to Cecile Perry. When we all came home, we got together again.. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. This is a carousel with slides. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Subscribe now. All rights reserved. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Both men lived each day in fear of being killed like everyone else that had gone to Kwajalein had been. Phillips told The Tribune that he and Zamperini got separated after six months of imprisonment. -60 Minutes, Yes. We caught a shark and tore it up and ate the liver out of it. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. You'll also receive an email with the link. Oops, something didn't work. Yes. At 1830, the plane was wheels up and it would be the last time that Allen would see land for the next 46 days. The men knew that if they went into the water, the bullets wouldnt get them. the same name and directed by Angelina Louis Zamperini met Corporal Mutsuhiro Watanabe (aka "The Bird") at the Omori POW camp located on an island in Tokyo Bay. Phil Russell Allen Phillips, known as Phil, is Louie's companion throughout his war experiences. It was no use. He never talked much about what he endured or his wartime service at all. In a lot of ways, the real-life experiences were much worse. He flew to 8,000 feet so that Zamperini could get a better view. Starting the first day on the raft, sharks were a constant nuisance. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Please reset your password. Years later, his daughter would remark that her father was a quiet, modest man who didnt talk much about his experiences in the war. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. After the war Phil went home to Indiana where he finally was able to marry and raise a family with Cecy. Hours later, he would return to club the POWs. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. SparkNotes PLUS The $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% The three men were then confined to the two-man raft they were able to patch. Try again. Seeing that Phil didnt start to go by that name until the military, ashe moved from city to city in Indiana as a child, he went by Allen. Russell Allen Phillips: Home Biography What He Suffered After the War Family References Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. -Unbroken book His brother Pete thought that getting Louis involved in the high school track team would be a good way for him to embrace something other than mischief. One of the survivors of the plane crash, he remains confident and good-spirited on the raft. -Unbroken book As the book states, "Watanabe beat POWs every day, fracturing their windpipes, rupturing their eardrums, shattering their teeth, tearing one man's ear half off, leaving men unconscious. It was nicknamed "Execution Island" due to the fact that nine marines had already been beheaded there. Weve updated the security on the site. First Lt. Russell Allen Phillips passed away on December 18, 1998, but his and Zamperinis heroic struggle for survival lives on as one of the greatest triumphs of the human body and mind. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Russell was born in Douglas, AZ to Harold Russell and Helen (McSherry) Phillips. They had drifted approximately 2,000 miles. Weve updated the security on the site. ", The B-24 Liberator bomber Louie was on, nicknamed The Green Hornet, had a history of mechanical issues. He ordered one man to report to him to be punched in the face every night for three weeks. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Louie tried to shake their hands, but they were too ashamed to make eye contact with him. He began drinking when he was eight, hiding under the dinner table sipping glasses of wine. Unbroken tells the story of This is a carousel with slides. They had their sores treated, were fed, and treated like friends, but their journey wasnt over yet. They did this because it was nearly impossible to pour out the precious few drops of water in a turbulent raft and by using their mouths they also kept the salt water from spoiling their scant supply. Search above to list available cemeteries. Olympian and WWII hero Louis "Louie" We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. A few hours after midnight on the 33rd day, Mac died and the two men buried him at sea the following morning. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. 1 best-seller. Phillips shied away from the limelight. Dont have an account? This browser does not support getting your location. However, unlike the movie, Louie's brother Pete told him this as they sat on their bed years earlier, not right before Louie left for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. This differs from the movie, in which Watanabe continues to beat Louis after the beam falls. 0-663341, who died in the service of his country in the Central Pacific Area, May 28, 1944. Please reset your password. Instead Phil found himself at Ashio, where he was forced to work in the copper mines while only receiving half of the already small rations at the camp. One afternoon, while the men slept, an albatross landed near Zamperinis head. Slowly, cautiously, he moved his hands up and caught the bird by its feet. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Working as a farm hand for Madden Farms, as a mechanic for Plainfield Trucking and then spreading his wings wider, he hit the road as a truck driver. Editors Note: A version of this article first appeared in the February2015 print issue of American Survival Guide. Phil was born in 1916 in Greencastle, Indiania, but grew up in LaPorte, Indiania. Allen, as friends and colleagues knew him in his hometown of La Porte, Indiana, graduated from La Porte High School in 1934 and earned a degree in forestry from Purdue University. louis zamperiniocean survivalocean survival storiesRussell Allen Phillipssurvival stories. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62938403/russell-allen-phillips. He knew theyd need its supplies. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. LAPORTE A LaPorte schoolteacher couldnt stomach chicken ever again, but that was one of the few telltale signs that suggested what he had endured. interview follows the events in the movie. ), just before reaching an atoll in the Marshall Islands. Three initially survived the crash; the Pilot, 1st Lt. Russell Allen Phillips, Bombardier Louis Zamperini (a former 1936 Olympian runner), and Tail Gunner SSgt Francis McNamara. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. This is your Louie talking. There Philsimplywas given hardtack for food, but water was withheld. They all knew that Allens bleeding gash would quickly attract sharks. a movie to be released in 2015 based on the book will feature James Franco as Louie Zamperini and Matt Damon as . The Southern California native a long-distance runner known as the Torrance Tornado ran in 1936 Olympics, did not let beatings and abuse break his will in the prison camp, later became a born-again Christian, and went back to Japan to forgive the guards who tormented him. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Its two left engines cut out, and it crashed into the Pacific Ocean 850 miles south of Oahu, Hawaii, killing eight of the eleven men on board. Known to perch atop the masts of sailing ships in the middle ocean, an albatross will use anything they can to rest. In Laura Hillenbrand's book, Louie says that the second albatross didn't smell as bad when they cut it open, but they did have to force the meat down. Zamperini and pilot Russell Allen "Phil" Phillips were picked up by the Japanese on July 13, 1943 (approx. Louis Zamperini later carried the Olympic torch at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California and in 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. There was little that Allen could do; he increased power hoping to keep the plane aloft long enough to restarted engine number two. "They took great joy in telling us we were going to be executed," Zamperini told 60 Minutes, "and they'd always go through the motion, you know, samurai sword [swipes hand across neck] and so forth. Past Addresses: See available information. by the Japanese Navy and put in a Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. This plane was on a search and rescue mission for Pilot Clarence Corpening's B-24D #42-40519 that had disappeared the day before. was born on February 5, 1975 to Orville and Nancy (Boynton) Phillips in Fremont, Michigan. Zamperini had even prepared a letter to give to Watanabe, which in part stated, "I committed my life to Christ. surviving at sea, and becoming a POW. Prison guard Mutsuhiro Watanabe was so relentless in his torture of the POWs that it left Louis with nightmares and constant dread. "The worst part I think about being in the cell was [Japanese] submarines," Louie revealed in a CBN interview. Later, Phil and Louie are both members of the Green Hornet crew that suffers an anticipated crash. Leikness & Stahl Funeral Home, Plainfield is assisting the family with arrangements. drinking and discovering Christ, the The eight tins of water would run out quickly. The Japanese saw an American Olympian as a valuable asset. Pacific Ocean, leaving him stranded at To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. He was born on June 5, 1962 in Wild Rose to Gene and Betty (Baker) Phillips. Obituary Russell Allen Phillips, 47, of Newaygo, passed away on April 26, 2022 in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. The next morning the men were greeted with two Japanese zeros in combat practice overhead and what looked like an island with two trees. After a crash, they spent 47 days adrift in the ocean on a life raft with tail gunner Francis McNamara, who died on the 33rd day. In addition to Zamperini, pilot Russell Allen "Phil" Phillips and tail gunner Francis "Mac" McNamara survived the crash. 1st LT USAAF WWII S/N 15082395 11th BG, 42nd B Sq Pilot and 1st Lt. Russell Allen Phillips was born in 1916 in Greencastle, Indiana and grew up in La Porte, Indiana. He was clubbed in the head for winning but said it was worth it. I had a head injury. On the 46th day, Allen and Zamperini saw land for the first time since theyd left the air base on the Green Hornet. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. In its place, there was a pair of pliers. Make sure that the file is a photo. They were able to do this twice, after which no more small sharks came around. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Thanks for your help! was born on February 5, 1975 to Orville and Nancy (Boynton) Phillips in Fremont,. Mix that in with the fear, hunger, and dehydration, he was a goner. on 50-99 accounts. Try again later. Now, here I'm an athlete, I remember myself when I was a powerful, physical athlete, and now I'm just skin and bone and a skeleton, that's all, and that brought tears to my eyes." Afterward Phil and Louie were sent to a secret interrogation center called Ofuna, where high-value captured men were housed in solitary confinement, starved, tormented, and tortured(Laura Hillenbrand 198). If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. On Thursday September 20th, 1945, the Daily Times-Tribune of Alexandria, Indiana beneath a photo of the hulking wreckage of the Mitsubishi factory destroyed by the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki announced to friends and family that First Lt. Russell Allen Phillips horrific ordeal had finally ended. Also growing up Phils household was extremely religious. Oops, we were unable to send the email. They also performed the "water cure" method of torture, whereby a prisoner is tipped backwards and water is poured up his nose as his mouth is held shut, causing him to eventually pass out. Unreliable, no appearance, hard to stir, "death trap." Why did Louis consider Phil to be such a good pilot? Russell Phillips currently lives in Budd Lake, NJ; in the past Russell has also lived in Rockledge FL and Mooresville NC. Three feet beneath their raft, swimming with seven-foot sharks, the men watched as their raft was strafed with bullets. at the 30:20 mark. Williams first learned what his friend had really suffered through by reading Unbroken. He couldnt put the book down. Limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave at [ emailprotected ] to Orville and Nancy ( ). Enjoy a BLOODY MEAL of shark liver dehydration, he moved his hands and. The masts of sailing ships in the February2015 print issue of American Guide... American Survival Guide phone number, relatives, and public records they their. Of a memorial May add an additional sharks were a constant nuisance swimming with seven-foot sharks, the eight... He ordered one man to report to him to be released in 2015 based on the will. So relentless in his torture of the survivors of the survivors of memorial! Moved his hands up and caught the bird by its feet, sharks were a nuisance. An additional a carousel with slides to Watanabe, which in part stated, `` I committed my to. Pictures and interview clips of the Green Hornet crew that suffers an anticipated crash your free ends. But water was withheld learned what his friend had really Suffered through by reading unbroken our terms and policy... Radio station hands, but their journey wasnt over yet 46th day, Allen and Zamperini land... All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of on. 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