Stokes, Philip Whitney

Title

Performer

Philip Whitney Stokes

Interviewer

William Vollano

Description

Philip Stokes was born in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan when he was eleven years old. He graduated from Ypsilanti High School in June of 1943 and enlisted in the Marines in November of 1943. After boot and basic training, Philip was assigned to the newly formed Marine 5th Division, the Division landed on Iwo Jima in February 19 of 1944. They were responsible for cutting the Japanese forces in two. Philip was assigned to the Battalion Headquarters as a clerk. Casualties were heavy, two of every three Marines were killed or wounded. The Marines received a big morale boost when on the 27th of March a damaged B29 landed on Iwo Jima even though the island was not fully secured. That had been part of their mission to provide a landing area close to Japan. Philip's Division returned to Hawaii and began preparing for the invasion of Japan. Philip was sent to Washington D.C. where he was responsible for reviewing requests for hardship discharges. Philip was discharged in April of 1946 and was married in September of 1946. He attended Cleary College and received an Associate Degree, which eventually helped to secure a position at a local bank, from which he retired. Philip has four children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He continues to live in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Date Span

1943-1946

Dates of Service

Subject

Enlisted; United States Marine Corps; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division; 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division; Company D, 1st Headquarters Battalion; World War, 1939-1945; Second World War - Pacific Theater; United States; Sergeant

Publisher

Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Collection Location

4/19

https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.68051

Spatial Coverage

Second World War - Pacific Theater; United States

Item