Son of Walter Benjamin Phillips and Lena Anderson.

Walter Anderson Phillips was a 1st Lt. during WW1 in the US Army's 1st Aero Squadron.

Walter Anderson Philips was the grandson of Eli Anderson, of Ashland's first pioneer settlers. Walter attended Ashland schools, graduating with the class of 1913. In high school he was an outstanding all-round athlete, competing in football, basketball, and baseball, and was the quarterback and captain of the 1912 football team. In his senior year young Philips led his team to the Valley Championship, losing only to Albany in the mythical "State Championship" game. Newspaper reports often referred to Walter as a clean competitor and a good sport, both on and off the field. After graduation in May of 1913 Phillips attended the Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis (Oregon State University).

Walter enlisted in the military during WWI and was eventually assigned to the First Officer's Training Camp at Presidio, California. Upon graduation from the Presidio he was assigned to the 19th Field Artillery Camp in Travis, Texas, then finally was selected for Artillery Observation in France. In May of 1918 Walter completed Aerial Gunnery and Photography School in Bordeaux, France and was assigned to the First Aero Squadron as an artillery observer.

On October 1, 1918 an order was issued from headquarters to spot enemy artillery which was shelling our troops. Two planes were dispatched, one with Lieutenant Fox and Philips, the other piloted by Lieutenant McCormick and gunner Joseph Farnham. Both planes crossed German lines then split up to observe enemy troop positions. Phillips and Lt. Fox encountered four German planes and, being hopelessly outnumbered, were shot down. The two men were reported as missing in action and it wasn't until December 7th that their deaths were confirmed.

In a letter to Walter Philips' mother, Farnham explained the details of the encounter with the German planes. "I don't believe it was more than five minutes before we got back to where Walter was working and we saw a ship there which we thought was his. We followed it for a short ways trying to touch it. Just then, some distance to our left, I saw several ships which looked like the enemy, but was not much concerned as they were too far off to look dangerous, and I thought we were following Walter out of their way. Suddenly I caught sight of a streak of flame, which a plane makes when on fire, and called through my tube to the pilot. He looked around and about that time I was able to determine that the ship we were following was not Walter's. You have no idea, someone who has not experienced it, how difficult it is to know and recognize exactly, different ships in the air. We turned and headed for the plane where the light had occurred, went down close to the ground where the fallen ship was still burning, but even then did not know whether it was our ship or not. We gained altitude again and then while directly over our lines, the crank-shaft in our engine broke. Lt. McCormick made an excellent landing near one of our batteries from which we borrowed horses and rode to headquarters of the division. There we learned, for the first time, that the ship we had seen go down was indeed poor Walter and Fox.

Later, Walter and Fox were found at the location I had given by map (where I had seen his still burning ship), and buried by the Division Chaplin, by the side of a pretty road just north of Varennes. They lay side by side with several other boys – infantry men who died nearby. As soon as was possible, crosses were made from the struts of an airplane and marked, as these were placed as headstones."

In a letter he left in case of his death, Walter said, "The best way to lighten the effect of sorrow is by hard work. Do not sit and brood over your own misfortune, but set about to relieve the suffering of others. By helping others who have been as unfortunate as yourself, you will receive the greatest solace."

In 1940, the Ashland High School football field was officially named Walter A. Philips Field. The sign over the main gate was added just prior to the first game in 1958.

Son of Walter Benjamin Phillips and Lena Anderson.

Walter Anderson Phillips was a 1st Lt. during WW1 in the US Army's 1st Aero Squadron.

Walter Anderson Philips was the grandson of Eli Anderson, of Ashland's first pioneer settlers. Walter attended Ashland schools, graduating with the class of 1913. In high school he was an outstanding all-round athlete, competing in football, basketball, and baseball, and was the quarterback and captain of the 1912 football team. In his senior year young Philips led his team to the Valley Championship, losing only to Albany in the mythical "State Championship" game. Newspaper reports often referred to Walter as a clean competitor and a good sport, both on and off the field. After graduation in May of 1913 Phillips attended the Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis (Oregon State University).

Walter enlisted in the military during WWI and was eventually assigned to the First Officer's Training Camp at Presidio, California. Upon graduation from the Presidio he was assigned to the 19th Field Artillery Camp in Travis, Texas, then finally was selected for Artillery Observation in France. In May of 1918 Walter completed Aerial Gunnery and Photography School in Bordeaux, France and was assigned to the First Aero Squadron as an artillery observer.

On October 1, 1918 an order was issued from headquarters to spot enemy artillery which was shelling our troops. Two planes were dispatched, one with Lieutenant Fox and Philips, the other piloted by Lieutenant McCormick and gunner Joseph Farnham. Both planes crossed German lines then split up to observe enemy troop positions. Phillips and Lt. Fox encountered four German planes and, being hopelessly outnumbered, were shot down. The two men were reported as missing in action and it wasn't until December 7th that their deaths were confirmed.

In a letter to Walter Philips' mother, Farnham explained the details of the encounter with the German planes. "I don't believe it was more than five minutes before we got back to where Walter was working and we saw a ship there which we thought was his. We followed it for a short ways trying to touch it. Just then, some distance to our left, I saw several ships which looked like the enemy, but was not much concerned as they were too far off to look dangerous, and I thought we were following Walter out of their way. Suddenly I caught sight of a streak of flame, which a plane makes when on fire, and called through my tube to the pilot. He looked around and about that time I was able to determine that the ship we were following was not Walter's. You have no idea, someone who has not experienced it, how difficult it is to know and recognize exactly, different ships in the air. We turned and headed for the plane where the light had occurred, went down close to the ground where the fallen ship was still burning, but even then did not know whether it was our ship or not. We gained altitude again and then while directly over our lines, the crank-shaft in our engine broke. Lt. McCormick made an excellent landing near one of our batteries from which we borrowed horses and rode to headquarters of the division. There we learned, for the first time, that the ship we had seen go down was indeed poor Walter and Fox.

Later, Walter and Fox were found at the location I had given by map (where I had seen his still burning ship), and buried by the Division Chaplin, by the side of a pretty road just north of Varennes. They lay side by side with several other boys – infantry men who died nearby. As soon as was possible, crosses were made from the struts of an airplane and marked, as these were placed as headstones."

In a letter he left in case of his death, Walter said, "The best way to lighten the effect of sorrow is by hard work. Do not sit and brood over your own misfortune, but set about to relieve the suffering of others. By helping others who have been as unfortunate as yourself, you will receive the greatest solace."

In 1940, the Ashland High School football field was officially named Walter A. Philips Field. The sign over the main gate was added just prior to the first game in 1958.