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274. A Fourth WWI Pensacolian Dies of Spanish Influenza 1918

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Henry Lewis Phillips was born on June 30, 1897 in Warrington, the son of Henry Enalda (1874-1951) and Lulu Phillips (1877-1939). The family was living on Little Bayou at the time and his father was in the US Coast Guard. By 1910, young Henry had become interested in music and had a job on the side in the theater playing his instrument. As late as 1917, he was still working in the music field with the Fichenburg Amusement Company in Pensacola.

After America entered World War I on April 6. 1917, the government began to scramble to build up a military force to fight the Germans in Europe. On June 5th, Henry filled out his paperwork and by August 19th he was inducted into the US Army and shipped to Ft. Screven, Georgia on Tybee Island. The post was established in 1898 and has served the US military from the Spanish-American War through both World War I and II. Upon completion of his basic training, he was transferred to Fort Slocum, located on Davids' Island in Long Island Sound in New York. By November 1917, he was transferred to the Canal Zone where he was promoted to the rank of corporal on April 22, 1918. By August 19, 1918, he was transferred to the post band at CAC 16 at Corozal, several miles from Balboa. But, in the first week of September he contracted influenza and passed away several days later on September 8, 1918. His mother was notified of his death by telegram and arrangements were made for his remains to be transferred back home. His body arrived in Pensacola on October 2, 1918 after a three-week journey and was buried in St. John's Cemetery the next day with full military honors. The death toll of Pensacolians to this terrible disease was mounting by the day. They would join the long list of victims that would reach up to 50,000,000 by the summer of 1919.

US Army Band 1918

1917 WWI Draft Card of Henry Lewis Phillips

US Army Personnel Stricken with Influenza 1917

Cost of Influenza 1918: 50-100, 000, 000

Pensacola News Journal 10-3-1918

Cpl. Henry Lewis Phillips Buried St. John's Cemetery


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