The legacy of the National Guard stretches back more than three centuries and represents men and women who have not only volunteered to serve as members of the military when called upon by their state and country, but have also strove to maintain careers in support of their families. In the case of veteran Dewey "Joe" Phillips, both his military and personal careers achieved a focus on education - experiences the veteran enjoyed for a number of decades.
Born in 1931 in Crawford County, Kansas, Phillips' family later lived in Kansas City and St. Louis before eventually settling in Joplin. Following his graduation from Carl Junction High School in 1950, Phillips decided to pursue higher education.
"I had an athletic scholarship to Joplin Junior College," Phillips said. "While there, a couple of my good friends encouraged me to join the Missouri National Guard because of the training and pay, so I enlisted on Dec. 4, 1950."
Phillips graduated from junior college in 1953 and went on to attend Southwest Missouri College in Springfield, Missouri, where he earned his bachelor's degree in education in May 1956, all while attending drills and annual training with a local Missouri National Guard unit.
"I soon accepted a job of teaching and coaching with the Jasper (Missouri) Public Schools," Phillips said, "and also found a slot with the National Guard unit in Webb City. I accepted both the job and the military assignment within a few days of one another."
He decided to resign his position with Jasper Schools in June 1957 because of an offer for a teaching and coaching job at Carl Junction, in addition to being scheduled to attend Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia.
Following his graduation as a second lieutenant from OCS in August 1957, he returned to Missouri, began his new teaching position and started his service as a lieutenant with the 203rd Engineer Battalion in Webb City in 1958.
Phillips ascended the commissioned officer ranks and was eventually promoted to major in July 1973 when assigned to the 35th Engineer Brigade at Jefferson Barracks. It was here that he became a training officer for the Missouri National Guard's OCS school and served as an engineer plans officer on the staff of the OCS school, which was located at Camp Clark in Nevada, Missouri.
"My full-time career carried me to several different schools," Phillips said. "In addition to going on to earn both my master's and doctorate in education and public school administration, I served as superintendent of schools in Linn for three years and finished my civilian career in 1993 after 13 years as superintendent of schools in New Bloomfield."
Although Phillips' stories of employment with various school systems throughout the years is itself a fascinating account, his military career frequently emerges as the focus of his reflections, which includes accounts of teaching military classes at Ft. Knox, Kentucky; Ft. Sill, Oklahoma; and Ft. Carson, Colorado.
A profound memory for him was being selected by the state's adjutant general to represent Missouri as a delegate on five separate occasions to the national convention of the National Guard Association of the United States. During one convention, he was chosen as part of a small group to visit Ellis Island and to visit the platform at the base of the torch of the Statue of Liberty, enjoying a stunning view of New York City.
"In 1976, I was assigned as the intelligence officer with the 35th Engineer Brigade and also attended the 5th Army Intelligence School at Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin," he said. "When that assignment came to an end in September 1979, I was transferred to State Headquarters in Jefferson City as the assistant G2/3 (intelligence and operations officer)."
While assigned to State Headquarters and after having served 28 years in uniform, Phillips agreed to a reduction in rank to be reassigned as a military instructor at the Missouri OCS. When this assignment ended in December 1981, he retired from the Missouri National Guard after having completed nearly 30 years of service.
Like so many veterans, Phillips' years spent in uniform imbued in him a desire to continue to serve even when he had already retired from decades of service with the National Guard. In recent years, he has remained active with the Military Officers Association of America, having served separate terms as president of his local chapter and of the state chapter.
Even though his military and civilian careers have now concluded, the veteran affirms the many influences and experiences of his past associations remain treasured reflections during his golden years of retirement.
"I taught map reading and orienteering for the Missouri OCS Schools for 21 years and even had the honor of being selected as outstanding instructor in the 1970s," Phillips said. "The time spent teaching students in the military were some of the best of my military career."
He added, "When I was training, we always taught to three different levels - those with high, medium and lower IQs. The most rewarding of that experience," he concluded, "was when students, regardless of their level, would comprehend the subject and you could see that light come on when they'd say, 'Hey, I understand this!'
"That, for me, remains the most treasured of my military memories."
Jeremy P. Amick writes on behalf of the Silver Star Families of America.