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Remember...Shirley James Phillips
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Shirley James Phillips was born on October 4, 1914, in Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia, to Arnold James Phillips and Della Fisher Phillips. The 1920 Federal Census indicates that the Phillips family was much involved with the local timber industry, with Mr. Phillips and his older sons all listed as woodsmen and pulpwood cutters. The family had boarders whose occupations were listed as the same as the Phillips men. Mrs. Phillips's occupation was a cook in a lumber camp. The children's names were listed as Roy, Chester, Halton, Edna, Dorothy, Ralph, Merritt, and Shirley. Two additional names were listed in obituaries at the time that Shirley Phillips died, and those were Maud and Velva.
By 1930, the family had moved from Elkins to Leadsville and were farming. Dorothy was still at home and working as a private nurse. Ralph was working in road construction. Shirley Phillips attended school in Elkins.
In 1939, Mr. Phillips died. The 1940 census recorded Mrs. Phillips as the head of the household, living in Kerens, with a sister-in-law and grandchildren. Son Ralph was still living at home and working in a steam railroad shop, and son Shirley was also listed at home, working as a clerk in the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. In October of that year, Shirley Phillips registered for military service. In September 1942, Shirley Phillips enlisted at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. The center was established to train infantry troops, and it was also the location where the 61st Medical Battalion trained. Shirley Phillips was placed with the 393d Medical Clearing Company. The company participated in D-Day, going ashore on June 6, 1944. ("Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment: 61st Medical Battalion," Department of the Army, Lineage and Honors Information, 16 June 2016, accessed 14 December 2019, https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/med/0061mdbn.htm.) Medical collection and clearing companies were tasked with collecting the bodies of soldiers who did not survive and grave registration. This included collecting bodies from difficult locations and identifying the person, collecting his possessions, and identifying effects associated with the person.
According to the Report of Operations: October 20, 1943/August 1, 1944 Annex No. 15-20, personnel of the 61st Medical Battalion were not able to do anything other than render first aid due to their equipment not coming to shore with them. The collection and clearing company was not able to move to its designated position, leaving the company vulnerable on the beach. Sometime during June 6, 1944, Shirley Phillips was injured and died of his wounds. Shirley Phillips left behind his wife, Winifred Hoffman Phillips. Research did not reveal when they married.
| Shirley Phillips's remains were returned to West Virginia in December 1947, and he was interred in Maplewood Cemetery, Elkins, West Virginia. |  Headstone for Sgt. Shirley J. Phillips in Maplewood Cemetery. Courtesy Cynthia Mullens |
Article prepared by Cynthia Mullens
December 2019
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
