Commander Phillips was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a F2H-2 Banshee jet fighter and Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron 11 aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Kearsarge (CV-34). On 23 January 1953, while on a reconnaissance mission along the main supply route north of Wonsan, North Korea, his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire and crashed. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on 14 June 1954. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Commander Phillips was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.