Army Staff Sgt. Anton R. Phillips

Died December 31, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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31, of Inglewood, Calif.; assigned to G Forward Support Company, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Task Force Wildhorse, Jalalabad, Afghanistan; died Dec. 31 at FOB Methar Lam, Afghanistan.

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‘He was more than just a team leader, he was a friend’

The Associated Press

Anton Phillips, a father of three, “took care of his soldiers like family,” a fellow officer said.

“He rallied them to do their jobs to the best of their ability and he led by example,” said Capt. Alexis Jackson, who served with Phillips.

As an executive officer for the 5th Maintenance Company out of Kaiserslautern, Germany, Phillips earned respect from both his leaders and peers, according to The Provider, a blog about the 82nd Sustainment Brigade, which is supporting the war in Afghanistan.

Phillips, 31, of Inglewood, Calif., died Dec. 31 at Forward Operating Base Methar Lam, Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, Phillips was assigned to the base in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department has announced that it is investigating Phillips’ death.

“Sergeant Phillips was beyond reliable,” 1st Lt. Craig A. Long, 5th MC platoon leader, said at a service for Phillips. “He was more than just a team leader, he was a friend and his door was always open to anyone, day or night.”

Phillips is survived by daughters Lexus, 13, Antoneth, 8, and Alina, 5. The Provider reports that more than 200 soldiers attended a memorial service for Phillips at Bagram Airfield.