- February 7, 2025
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Rod Phillips is a Vietnam veteran who was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal and Presidential Unit Citations, among others.
After being honorably discharged from active duty in the Army in July 1970, Phillips continued to serve through the Army Reserves and with a law enforcement career of 38 years before retiring in 2010. However, retirement has not slowed the veteran down and he has been working to help other veterans throughout Volusia County.
From the time Phillips was out of the service, he saw a need within the community.
"I'm still out there and, even though I retired in 2010, I'm putting in more hours assisting veterans or networking out there in the community," Phillips said. "We are living history and it's important that we educate our youth about our history and what we've done."
It's this work and dedication to other veterans that led Gov. Rick Scott and his cabinet to induct Phillips into the Florida Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Oct. 17. The Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, located at the state's capital, recognizes veterans who have positively contributed to Floridians, whether that is through business, politics, agriculture, science or service to veterans.
Phillips is among 20 veterans nominated for 2017. All of the veterans had an initial screening by a committee made up of members appointed by the governor, speaker of the House of Representatives, president of the Florida Senate and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"I'm pretty humbled and honored just to be nominated for this recognition," Phillips said. "This is the biggest thing that's ever happened to to me in my life."
Phillips' road to receiving this honor began in 1967 when he first joined the Army before he was assigned to the 101st Screaming Eagles Airborne Division in Vietnam. The next year, Phillips would be in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive when North Vietnamese and communist Viet Cong forces carried out an attack in the southern part of the country.
During his time as an active military member, Phillips conducted search and destroy missions and was promoted to staff sergeant.
Since returning to the U.S., Phillips has shifted his focus to other veterans. He is currently the president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1048 and is also the VVA mentor coordinator for Volusia County's Judge David B. Beck Veterans Court. Phillips is also the vice president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Florida State Council, which has allowed him to serve as the chairman of the Agent Orange and PTSD committees.
In 2016, Phillips lead five Agent Orange Town Halls throughout Florida, with one in Daytona reaching an attendance of more than 300 people.
Phillips also has a passion for homeless veterans and serves on the Homeless Veterans steering committee where he has organized five stand downs for homeless vets each year. The stand downs provide a way for veterans in need to find the resources and help they need to live better lives.
The five stand downs have been held in Volusia County where veterans had access to a medical mobile van and were provided with services such as haircuts.
"I started seeing some World War II veterans that were homeless in Dade County, Miami, certainly some Korean War veterans and many other types of veterans that were homeless," Phillips said "I just wanted to help them out."
