I was very impressed with your article on Lanier Phillips. I am his Grandson from his first son, Lanier Walter Phillips jr. Your article was informative, and did a fine job of honoring my grandfather, and all the African American sailors, soldiers who served our country. Thank You
I'm just finding your article and I'm so grateful that i did. i too am retired navy, but from a very different navy. It is because of the courage of the men in that room that i was able to move from the enlisted ranks to the officer ranks. At the time it was really no big deal to me, that was the order; work hard, put in the extra to set yourself apart and apply. But, one night i attended an annual event hosted by my mother's sorrority, AKA, for which i drove up from Pensecola to attend while i was still in OTS, Officer's Training School, i was in my newly earned LTjg uniform. It was all par for the course until i saw the pride in the face of the men when i walked in. You would have thought i was theirs, and after talking to some them (actually listening)i realized i was theirs. Nothing is free, everything is paid for even if you don't get the tab. I am so grateful to those men. i just got off the phone with one of Mr. Lanier Phillips' nieces, who was asking me about the navy, and just happend to mention that her uncle was in the navy for 30 years, and was the first Black Sonar Tech and i just had to google that name. Thank you for the article which i'm blessed to have read on this 40th celebration of MLK,Jr's birth. This a day of heroes for me. SECarson
ALL The Room full of Heros from my past included a CPO Talley, AMI (VW-1 shipmate) VR 21 Stewards mates and many others. The barriers were pretty well down by the mid to late 50s, and the ratings were being filled. I was and am honored to have served with my Room full of Heros. Thanks for the article. end
