Philip See:
Phil was the oldest of eight children and was brought up on his parent's farm 4 miles west of Marshfield. He and his siblings helped on the farm when they became old enough, doing milking, shocking oats, driving horses and later the tractor, while helping with the hay crop.

He took a deep interest in building model airplanes and had quite a nice array of war planes and many others.

Phil was a member of Shady Lane 4-H Club and showed livestock at the Central Wisconsin State Fair. He was voted the "Healthiest Boy" in Wood County in his early teens.

Phil attended Marshfield Senior High School, and enlisted in the Army just prior to graduating in 1944

Phil trained at Camp Wolters in Texas and Camp San Luis Obispo in California.

Author: Trudy (See) Gripentrog, sister of Phil

Philip J. See
"United in this determination and with unshakable faith in the cause for which we fight, we will, with God's help, go forward to our greatest victory." said General Dwight D. Eisenhower, preparing his men for the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. These words might have repeated themselves time after time in Philip J. See's mind as he fought vigorously for his country and his life. Many knew Philip as a strong, perseverant, and intelligent young man. These characterists will leave a "Philip shaped" stamped on the hearts of those who have known him until the end of time.

Philip See, Jr. entered the world on October 29, 1926, in Hewitt, Wisconsin. He had a big family, consisting of seven sisters and one brother; Gertrude, Barbara, Joanne, Catherine, Pauline, Mary Jo, his brother John, and twin sister Jonnie. Philip attended St. John Parochial School in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He then transferred to Marshfield Senior high and graduated that spring, in 1944.

On January 22, 1944, Philip decided to enlist in the army as an infantryman, a decision that altered his life drastically. Immediately prededing his high school graduation in 1944, Philip was sent to Camp Walters, a training facility in Texas. In the Lone-Star state, Philip most likely learned the duties of an infantryman, which were to defend our country and to capture and destroy enemy ground. After basic training he flew to Camp San Luis, in Obispo, California. For final training Philip traveled across the country to Fort Meade, in Maryland. Soon after, in February of 1945, he was sent overseas to France.

On May 4th, 1945, Philip's parents received a heartbreaking telegram. The message informed them that their son was killed in action at the age of nineteen in Germany on April 15, 1945, which was the same date the infamous concentration camp, Berger Belsen was liberated. A memorial service was held for Philip at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on May 8th, 1945. Philip was awarded the Infantryman Badge, and the Purple Heart.

Megan Hayes, Student
Marshfield Junior High