Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
3:25 | Recalling his first visit to Normandy years after WWII, Bob Phillips describes the hill where he originally saw dead bodies. He also reflects back to the wartime vision of a burned out barn full of dead slave laborers.
Capt. Phillips describes how his high school ROTC training and living in an orphanage prepared him for World War II.
As a machine gun platoon leader, Capt. Phillips recalls how accuracy was crucial during the training of U.S. troops as well as protecting them from the Germans.
In this chilling account, Capt. Phillips relives the death and destruction he witnessed and talks about just how accurate the movie "Saving Private Ryan" was in recreating it.
In this riveting story, Bob Phillips reflects back on the terrifying injuries his fellow soldiers suffered. He describes how they all felt at the moment it happened.
In one battle many people never heard of, Capt. Phillips tells how the Germans tried to "divide and conquer " as they did during the "Battle of the Bulge."
In one humorous incident, Capt. Philllips recalls a drunken surgeon operating on his feet, how he couldn't walk, and what happened when the Germans started shooting at him.
Facing certain death during battles with the Germans, Bob Phillips describes what forced his platoon to retreat as the enemy advanced.
In this chilling recollection, Capt. Phillips describes how he handled seeing dead bodies and the unbearable fear of enemy mortar fire.
In this dramatic account, Capt. Phillips describes the fear he felt during German artillery attacks and how it affected him after the war.
In this gripping account, Capt. Phillips describes why one type of company was the most deadly, why he was told to volunteer, and the job he was eventually assigned to do.
Capt. Phillips describes how American soldiers avoided death when the bombs started flying over Normandy and how he felt about General Patton after being sent into battle time after time.
In this embarrassing account, Capt. Phillips describes how he ended up on the ground after trying to to discipline a German soldier.
In this humorous clip, Capt. Phillips talks about why he bet on soldiers who stole from the dead on both sides of the war.
Capt. Phillips shares how he felt when he witnessed surrender and emotional breakdowns as WWII drew to a close.
At the end of the war, Capt. Phillips recalls his role in the occupation and the kindness American troops showed toward German children.
In Bastogne, Capt. Phillips fought with soldiers who had never been trained. Here he describes the dangers these troops posed and talks about a good friend who was one of them.
Photos taken by Bob Phillips and other soldiers in Europe during WWII depict images of the Remagen Bridge and Gardelegen, Germany, among others. (Caution: Graphic)
