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Casualty Info
Home Town Fort Pierre, SD
Last Address 25 Catherine St Newport, RI
Casualty Date Jun 16, 1945
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Torpedoed
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Black Hills National Cemetery (VA) - Sturgis, South Dakota
Wall/Plot Coordinates MB 106 (memorial marker)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
In June 1945, the battle for Okinawa was drawing to its close. USS Twiggs (DD-591) continued radar picket duties in the western fire support area and supported strikes on Iheya Shima and Iheya-Aguni with pre-landing bombardment and gunfire support. On 16 June, Twiggs was on radar picket duty off Senaga Shima in the western fire support area. At 20:30, a single, low-flying plane dropped a torpedo which hit Twiggs on her port side, exploding her number 2 magazine. The plane then circled and completed its kamikaze mission in a suicide crash. The explosion enveloped the destroyer in flame; and, within an hour, she sank. Despite the hazard of exploding ammunition from the blazing Twiggs, 188 survivors were rescued from the oily waters.
Among the 152 dead and missing was CDR Philip. He was listed as missing in action and later declared dead.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 074871
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Twiggs (DD-591)
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 053 (January 1, 1946)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Commander George Philip, Jr. (NSN: 0-74871), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. TWIGGS (DD-591), during operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Okinawa Gunto, Nansei Shoto, from 25 March 1945 to 16 June 1945. Despite frequent attacks both day and night by enemy aircraft, and in the face of tremendous difficulties, Commander Philip directed the operation of his ship in such a manner that every mission was accomplished effectively. When his ship was damaged by an enemy suicide plane, Commander Philip brought her safely through the attack and supervised repair of battle damage in the combat area, returning to action in the minimum possible time. By his heroism in the destruction of enemy aircraft and shore installations, by his courage and endurance while commanding one of the destroyer pickets at Okinawa, an extraordinarily hazardous duty, and by virtue of conspicuous personal leadership in maintaining the fighting morale of a battle-worn crew under extremely trying conditions, Commander Philip distinguished himself and his command and contributed greatly to the success of a very difficult operation. His determination and heroic conduct were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Silver Star
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander [then Lieutenant] George Philip, Jr. (NSN: 0-74871), United States Navy, for gallantry, intrepidity, and meritorious performance of duty in repeated actions against the enemy as Executive Officer and Navigator of the Destroyer U.S.S. O'BANNON (DD-450), operating as a unit of a Task Force in the Solomon Islands from 10 January to 6 April 1943. During this period his ship acquitted itself with distinction, participating in three bombardments of enemy shore installations; operated against enemy air and surface forces attempting to relieve Guadalcanal, and surprised on the surface and sank an enemy submarine on the night of 15 April. By his skill, fearlessness and outstanding leadership, Lieutenant Philip was instrumental in the successful accomplishment of all the missions of his ship in the above actions. His conduct was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Guadalcanal Campaign (1942-43)/Battle of Cape Esperance
From Month/Year
October / 1942
To Month/Year
October / 1942
Description Cape Esperance (Second Savo) October 11–12, 1942. The Battle of Cape Esperance, also known as the Second Battle of Savo Island and, in Japanese sources, as the Sea Battle of Savo Island, took place on 11–12 October 1942, and was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and United States Navy. The battle was the second of four major surface engagements during the Guadalcanal campaign and took place at the entrance to the strait between Savo Island and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Cape Esperance (9°15′S 159°42′E) is the northernmost point on Guadalcanal, and the battle took its name from this point.
On the night of 11 October, Japanese naval forces in the Solomon Islands area—under the command of Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa—sent a major supply and reinforcement convoy to their forces on Guadalcanal. The convoy consisted of two seaplane tenders and six destroyers and was commanded by Rear Admiral Takatsugu Jojima. At the same time, but in a separate operation, three heavy cruisers and two destroyers—under the command of Rear Admiral Aritomo Goto-were to bombard the Allied airfield on Guadalcanal (called Henderson Field by the Allies) with the object of destroying Allied aircraft and the airfield's facilities.
Shortly before midnight on 11 October, a U.S force of four cruisers and five destroyers—under the command of Rear Admiral Norman Scott—intercepted Goto's force as it approached Savo Island near Guadalcanal. Taking the Japanese by surprise, Scott's warships sank one of Goto's cruisers and one of his destroyers, heavily damaged another cruiser, mortally wounded Goto, and forced the rest of Goto's warships to abandon the bombardment mission and retreat. During the exchange of gunfire, one of Scott's destroyers was sunk and one cruiser and another destroyer were heavily damaged. In the meantime, the Japanese supply convoy successfully completed unloading at Guadalcanal and began its return journey without being discovered by Scott's force. Later on the morning of 12 October, four Japanese destroyers from the supply convoy turned back to assist Goto's retreating, damaged warships. Air attacks by U.S. aircraft from Henderson Field sank two of these destroyers later that day.
As with the preceding naval engagements, around Guadalcanal, the strategic outcome was inconsequential because neither the Japanese nor United States navies secured operational control of the waters around Guadalcanal as a result of this action. However, the Battle of Cape Esperance provided a significant morale boost to the US Navy after the disaster of Savo Island.
