Graham Phillips
Photo: Denise Applewhite
To write his senior thesis on the development of tanks in the U.S.
Army, Graham Phillips immersed himself in the study of tank design,
deployment and doctrine. That knowledge should come in handy next fall,
when he will serve as a member of an Army tank crew.
But first he will fulfill another responsibility: Phillips has been
chosen as the class of 2005's salutatorian. He will continue the
Princeton tradition of delivering a speech in Latin at Commencement May
31.
"I think now more than ever the Army needs as many qualified and
talented people as it can get," said Phillips, who enlisted last
October. In July he will report for basic training at the Fort Knox
Armor Center in Kentucky.
"I don't know if I'll get sent to Iraq, but I certainly would be
willing to go if I did," Phillips said. "I don't agree with all the
dimensions of Bush's foreign policy, but regardless, I think it's
important that the best people be there doing the best job they can."
Phillips, who grew up in Brookfield, Mass., a town of 3,000, has been
interested in the Army for several years. He considered enlisting after
he completed high school, but opted instead to come to Princeton, where
he chose to major in history. His academic excellence has earned him a
ranking of seventh in his class.
After completing Princeton's language requirement by taking four
semesters of Latin, Phillips went on to advanced courses in Roman
letters, Roman drama and Vergil.
He considers studying Latin "good brain exercise. It's almost like solving a puzzle."
Every Monday during his freshman year Phillips was at the microphone at
WPRB, the student-run radio station, for his 6 a.m. shift as a disc
jockey. "As an incoming freshman I didn't realize how unusual it would
be for a college student to get up at 6 in the morning," he said. His
show, which lasted two and a half hours, featured classical music.
Phillips also participated in the Undergraduate Film Organization as
its Webmaster and vice chair.
For his thesis, Phillips wanted to study a topic related to the
military. He became intrigued by the way in which American political
views influenced tank design and the evolution of tactical doctrine for
tanks. His thesis covered tank development from World War II to the
Persian Gulf War.
His adviser, Jennifer Weber, who is a lecturer in the history
department, was so impressed with his research that she suggested he
contact the Army's Military History Center. "I think the center should
have his thesis in its collection," she said.
"What makes this young man extraordinary . . . is his maturity and his
deep sense of responsibility. Of the many undergraduates I have met at
Princeton, I have never met one who so exemplified, at this age,
'Princeton in the nation’s service,'" said Weber, referring to the
University's informal motto. "I have no doubt that he will make a
superb officer."
Phillips chose the Army because he wanted to pursue some type of
service to others after graduation. "I knew it would be challenging in
a completely different way than Princeton," he said. His commitment to
the military will last three and a half years.
Phillips may decide to become a career military officer, or he may
choose to be a high school teacher. "That's something I could imagine
myself doing," he said, "probably in a small town like the one I grew
up in."
