Raymond McDonald Phillips – Colonel, United Staes Army

Raymond McDonald Phillips, was born in Sylacauga, Alabama July 24, 1908 and died on  June 6, 2001.

Received a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama, 1930. During his years at the University, he was an Assistant Professor of Physics, a member Tau Beta Phi, Pi Nu Epsilon, Chi Beta Phi, and Alpha Sigma Phi. He enrolled in ROTC and commissioned a Second Lieutenant.

He was called to active duty for World War II with the Army 829th Engineering Aviation Battalion. He directed the construction of airfields in England, France (Orly Airfield) and Germany. He was soon promoted to full Colonel and Commanding Officer of his battalion. He earned the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious conduct and the Croix de Guerre with the Star of Vermeil from the government of France.

After the war, he accepted a position with the Army Corps of Engineers Washington, D.C. As Chief Construction Engineer, he built La Guardia Field, New York and Reagan National Airport, Washington, D.C.

In 1955 he became a construction management engineer with the Post Office department, Washington, D.C. until he retired in 1971.

In 1942, he built several houses on Inge Street in Arlington, VA and built twenty houses in the Groveton, VA area, off Rt. 1, Alexandria, VA. A street is named after him – Phillips Drive.

In 1955 he helped develop and built ten houses in the Yacht Haven Community near Mt. Vernon, VA. In 1958, he established United Construction Company of Virginia, Inc. In the seventies, he built and remodeled many houses in Arlington, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C. with the help of his son-in-law, William Rushing.

He married former Margaret Lettice in 1942. She passed away this year in January. They were married 58 years. He is survived by his four children, Martha Phillips of Tampa, FL, Margaret Rushing and her husband William Rushing of Springfield, VA, Sally Cochran and her husband Steve Cochran of Gettysburg, PA and his son Raymond McDonald Phillips, Jr of Fairfax, VA and five grandchildren Christopher and Courtney Cochran and William, Jr, Brandon and Blake Rushing.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, July 24th at 1:00 pm at the Old Post Chapel at Fort Myer with internment at Arlington Cemetery with full military honors.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard