Faces of the West County: Terry Philipp

Veterans Day Edition

Terry Philipp (Photo by Steve Einstein)

Our family loves going to the Veteran’s Day Parade that rolls through downtown Petaluma every year. Though my mind is very much wrapped around the current war that is raging in the Middle East, going to this yearly parade is a ritual of sorts. Honoring the men and women who have served in our armed services— in the last World War, Korea, Viet Nam, Afghanistan, the Gulf War, and untold smaller conflicts, and of course in peace time—just seems obvious. Petaluma’s small-town vibe, combined with a parade that feels unchanged since the ’50s or early ’60s just adds to the attraction.

We sat in the sun in front of Copperfield’s, watching scores of groups parade by—from Native American Vets, to high-stepping horses dancing to mariachi music, to high school marching bands, to the impressively long line of Vets in Vettes (Corvettes!).

Sitting right beside us, watching our grandkids scramble for the candy that was thrown their way, was a quiet gentleman with a great white mustache, wearing his USS Kansas City baseball cap.

We fell to talking, and he agreed to be the next Face of the West County.

Meet Terry Philipp.

Where and when were you born?

Santa Rosa, 1949, at Memorial Hospital. Grew up in Petaluma, graduated from Petaluma High in ’67. But I’ve lived in Forestville for a long time.

Family?

I was married twice, but not at the present time.

Where and when did you serve?

October ’67 to October ’71. I enlisted into the Navy right out of high school, right after turning 18.

Why?

I didn’t want to go on with school at that point and always wanted to be in the Navy.

What did you do in the Navy?

Well, I started in the engine room with a fireman’s rating. Anyone who worked below deck was fireman rated. We had red stripes. Deck rating meant white stripes. Aircraft carrier seamen had blue stripes.

After the engine room?

They needed a radio man, and I was accepted. That got me out of the engine room, where it could get up to 125 degrees, into an air-conditioned radio shack. That was a lot more fun.

What sort of ships?

The USS Rehoboth AGS 50, to start. It was a WestPac cruise. That was a Western Pacific cruise on both sides of the equator. Later I served on a supply ship, the USS Kansas City, an AOR-3. An Auxiliary Oiler Replenisher. We carried fuel, ammunition, and food from the Philippines to Viet Nam. We replenished every kind of ship out there.

Were you ever under fire?

No, but we were in the war zone.

Did you ever go back after you were discharged?

To the Philippines, yes. To Viet Nam, no. I have no use for communist countries.

Would you enlist again?

I’ve got mixed feelings for myself, but if I had an 18-year-old son or daughter, I’d encourage them to enlist. It’s both a patriotic thing and an honor to serve. Only 1% of the country sacrifices to ensure the freedom for everyone else.

I’m assuming that serving in the Navy made you even more patriotic.

Yes, it did. For a lifetime. The same thing for all my fellow sailors.

How were you treated off the ship, and upon discharge?

When I was stationed on Treasure Island in ’68 and ’69, and we would go on liberty off the ship, in uniform, there was lots of disrespect. It was during the Haight-Ashbury hippie era.

Well, it was a terribly divided country in terms of favoring or opposing the war.

That’s true. But I was disappointed by the jerks who showed us no respect.

And now?

It’s definitely a more positive environment now. But I’ll tell you, it feels weird to me every time someone thanks me for my service. It feels odd to hear that now, after the way we were treated. It seems like something people just say, without really understanding.

But I had an eight or nine-year-old Boy Scout come up to me just yesterday and shook my hand, and then he thanked me for my service. I think he was sincere. I asked if he would be going into the armed services, and he thought he would. I was pleased to hear that.

What did you do after your tour?

Well, I got married. And then I got married for a second time for a lot longer than the first time.

I was a machinist for Hewlett-Packard and then Agilent in Santa Rosa. I retired from them after 30 years. It was a good career.

Hobbies?

Sailing for 30 years. I had a boat that I kept mostly at Spud Point. Just for pleasure.

Did the Coast Guard ever have to come out for you?

Never. I was a very competent sailor.

I did the Mountain Man Rendezvous for years. I still do it.

What’s that?

It’s a reenactment of the fur trade era. We do it in various places all over Northern California. I portray a mountain man in leather leggings, with a powder horn and a shooting bag, and a hawk (a tomahawk) and a knife. There’s lots of camaraderie, but the kids aren’t coming on. The new generation isn’t so interested.

Terry, do you sometimes feel like a stranger, politically speaking, here in the West County?

Yes. I’m certainly in the minority. But my neighbors in Forestville are all with me.

I don’t agree with the kissing up to China and becoming more and more of a socialist society, which I think the Democrats are all about.

Did you ever consider moving to a more conservative area, like to the State of Jefferson?

No. I love this area with the redwoods and the river too much to consider leaving. At least not at my age.

What’s your favorite place around here?

Armstrong Woods. Especially in the winter when the creeks are flowing.

Favorite restaurant?

None anymore. I used to like Lujo’s Pizza in Forestville. They closed back in the ‘80s.

Yikes. That’s an old school choice. How about your preferred source for news?

Channel 5, KPIX.

That’s another old school choice. Newspaper?

Nope. None.

How about your favorite charity?

Tunnels to Towers. They buy houses for the families of fallen soldiers, firefighters, and police officers. If they don’t buy the home, they pay off the mortgage after the service member dies. It was started by a brother of a firefighter who died in the 9/11 attack.

Wow. That sounds like a great project. If it’s okay with you, I’ll find their website so that readers can contribute if they want.

So I know that it sounds a bit weird to you, or a bit forced, but I do want to express gratitude for your service. That was an especially difficult time to serve given the tumult in our country, what with the differing views on the war. But I hope you know that there are many of us, on both sides of the divide, who sincerely appreciate your sacrifice.

Thanks, Terry.

You can find Tunnels to Towers Foundation at t2t.org