Lanier Phillip's Newfoundland story

Lanier Phillips
Lanier Phillips, 1940s

Lanier Phillips,was an American with an amazing story tied to Canada. In 1942, Phillips was a U.S. Navy seaman whose life was changed forever by the kindness he experienced from the people of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland.
Lanier Phillips died March 12th, 2012. He was 88 years old. Just a month before his death, Lanier Phillips visited the Canadian village that changed his life one last time. 70 years later, he insisted on climbing the steep cliff where he’d landed after surviving the wreck of the USS Truxton in 1942.

Victor Nerenberg tells us the story

7 Replies to “Lanier Phillip's Newfoundland story”

  1. I am so proud that I am a decendent of Newfoundland. Both my parents were born their. To this day the Newfoundlanders are wonderful people. They don’t have hatred for any person. After 911 when planes were instructed not to land in the New York Area, they went to Newfoundland and the people open their hearts and homes to all the passengers. Anyone who goes there can’t help but fall in love with the people.

  2. Mary Burke says:

    It was an honor to have him visit our Province 70 years later. He is a treasure to the NL people, and very dear to our hearts. Take care Mr. Phillips. xo

  3. Lilian Jefford says:

    Saw this story awhile back on television.
    It was an amazing story. Too bad all people can’t be this nice!!!!!!

  4. Peggy murpgy says:

    I had the pleasure a few yrs ago to meet Mr Phillips,I was on a flight with him fr St John’s,I stopped @ his seat to say hi & shake his hand. When we reached our destination he graciously posed with my friend & I for a picture.I hv that picture frames & on my table.He is the perfect definition of a hero . (think it was his last trip to NL)

  5. Len Evans says:

    Mr Phillips is undoubtably the real hero of his own story. The people of NL are what they are. They did what any decent people would do. Thats not the best part of the story for me. Mr. Phillips himself was the one who experienced the profound change. Thats the real piece of the story that speaks to me. People seldom change much about themselves. It takes real strength and courage to look within and to confront our own preconseptions, and to undergo transformation in how we see the world around us. To have the ability to become a better and more positive version of ourselves is what I find exceptional about his story. He is a true role model for us all.

  6. Anita Wyatt says:

    At the time of the disaster Newfoundland was Britain’s oldest colony and not part of Canada. Newfoundland became a province of Canada on April 1, 1949.

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