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thedrifter
05-21-07, 08:13 AM
War Stories:
Cpl. Brent Phillips
Marine left White House to fight in Iraq

Bert Sass
Special Projects Producer
12 News
May. 18, 2007 09:47 PM
War Stories: Corporal Brent Phillips

His duty assignment put him closer to the president than most generals. Brent Phillips, who now lives in Gilbert, was one of the guards with Marine One, the chopper that flies the president. He was one of the Marines who stood in dress uniform beside the steps of the helicopter and saluted as the president got on or off.

But after 9/11, Phillips asked for a transfer so he could fight in the war on terror. He was with the First Marine Division when it crossed into Iraq on the first day of the war in March 2003. As an MP (Military Police), part of his job was to secure the many Iraqi prisoners who surrendered. But some of his encounters with prisoners and their officers surprised him.

dealings with POWs surprised Phillips

In June of 2003, Phillips was in a convoy that was ambushed. Four rocket-propelled grenades struck his Humvee. As he crawled out through the windshield, he was shot in the arm by an AK-47.

Phillips describes firefight

Now, nearly four years after he was wounded, Phillips is still adjusting to civilian life. He says he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which affects many combat veterans.

Phillips tells about flashbacks

Phillips is determined to manage his PTSD and not let it control his life. He says, "I pretty much deal with it by telling my parents about it...both sheriff's officers (in California). Both of them have been in different firefights." Phillips also finds his wife and three small children help relieve the tension.

Some Valley veterans with PTSD attend regular meetings that were started by case manager Patricia Tuli at the Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Phoenix. Tuli works with many veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Veterans who want to find out more about the PTSD meetings can call Patricia Tuli at 602-200-2371. The Department of Veterans Affairs established the National Center for PTSD. The VA also has a program called Seamless Transition to assist active duty, national guard and reserve service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Civilians may also suffer PTSD even if they never see combat. They could be affected by a traffic accident or some other traumatic event. The PTSD Alliance provides information resources for PTSD to anyone, civilian or military.

Ellie