From volleyball to welcoming POWs, Leslie Phillips recalls her time in the Air Force during the Vietnam era

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — In 1970, the percentage of women serving on active duty in the Armed Forces was about two percent and their roles were limited. During her time in the service, Leslie Phillips had several unique jobs.

Air Force Airman Leslie Phillips began a six-year tour of duty in December 1969.

“It was a great day. We were finally done,” said Phillips about her graduation at Lackland Air Force Base. “I got to go home on leave the next day.”

She joined because there wasn’t much to do at her home in rural Oregon at the time. Her father had served in the Navy before World War II.

“He taught us that we owe America, that America doesn’t owe us anything. And, that we need to serve,” said Phillips.

Women in the Air Force were called WAFS 55 years ago. Back then, their roles were very limited in the Air Force.

“No woman on the flight line. No women in the maintenance departments and stuff like that. There weren’t any female pilots or anything like that back then. We have come a long way,” said Phillips.

Her official Air Force job was clerk typist, but she did a lot more than serve behind a desk. Assigned to March Air Force Base in California, a Strategic Air Command facility, she spent a lot of time in the gym having been an athlete in high school.

She played volleyball for the Strategic Air Command and her base team at March Air Force Base. Her team won several SAC tournaments traveling around the country to other air bases.

“We would represent the Strategic Air Command in the Air Force tournaments with all the other commands that they had,” said Phillips.

She received recognition for her most serious Air Force assignment.

“My Squadron that I was in was the 15th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron at March Air Force Base. It was part of the Defense Mapping Agency and we printed out the maps for the bombing missions in Vietnam,” said Phillips.

The Air Force awarded her the Joint Service Commendation Medal for outstanding initiative and leadership while serving at the mapping center.

“You definitely took your job seriously because it cost lives if you didn’t,” said Phillips.

Many of the returning POWs came through March Air Force Base in 1973. Phillips volunteered to help process their paperwork.

“Being able to meet some of the POWs and being able to see them and listen to their stories and what they had been through. It was horrible the way they were treated over there,” said Phillips.

As a member of the US Air Force, Phillips said it was an honor to have been a part of a world-class team.

“There is not enough young people nowadays wanting to serve. But if we don’t have people in the military serving, we are going to lose our freedom. And, I hate to see that. This is a great country,” said Phillips.

If you know a Veteran who could be recognized, send Don Dare an email at ddare@wate.com or give him a call at 865-633-6923.

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