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Phillips was an amiable man and was, judging by his letters, highly articulate, but he preferred not to speak. You could park him in a crowd of chattering partygoers and he’d emerge at evening’s end having never said a word. People had long conversations with him, only to realize later that he hadn’t spoken.
This quotation summarizes Phil’s quiet yet powerful demeanor, a quality that proves essential to survival on the raft and as a prisoner of war. This characteristic suggests an inner well that Phil seems to possess, perhaps gleaned from his spiritual upbringing and deep Christian beliefs. His grounded and secure nature seems to balance Louie’s fiery spirit and the two become fast friends. Though his body is pushed to unimaginable limits, Phil’s soul seems to remain steadfast throughout the story. Amid the harrowing fight for survival, the intelligence and strength Louie notices in Phil at first is a core reason for his perseverance through the war.
He dealt with every manner of adversity with calm, adaptive acceptance. In a crisis, Louie would learn, Phillips’s veins ran icewater.
This quote foreshadows Phil’s cool and collected nature that is an essential element of survival, especially on the raft. As a pilot, Phil’s trustworthiness provides a sense of safety to his whole crew, and on each flight, he commands with diligence and determination. Phil’s ability to stay calm in crisis is a lifesaving talent, as he mirrors Louie’s determination to stay alive through their quizzes and long conversations when they are stranded at sea, and through his relentless hope in POW camp.
He’d been gone for four years. His mother, his sister, and a throng of friends were there. A telegram had come from his father, who was soon to return from Europe: THANK THE LORD GREAT DAY HAS ARRIVED. WELCOME HOME MY SON. There, too, was the woman whose image had sustained him. Cecy was in his arms at last.
Throughout his entire time as a soldier, Phil’s heart is moored to the thought of his beloved fiancée, Cecy, and his family back home. Phil’s love for Cecy and his unfettered devotion to her is a key defining characteristic, as it is likely the thought of her that carries him through some of the most brutal moments of the war. Phil’s strong family ties are also undoubtedly a source of inspiration and strength, and his eventual homecoming is a moment of paramount joy, as referenced in this quote.
As they imagined themselves back in the world again, they willed a happy ending onto their ordeal and made it their expectation. With these talks, they created something to live for.
This quote alludes to the fierce determination with which Phil and Louie grasp a hold of survival during the 47 days stranded at sea. Keenly aware of the men who have died by insanity, Phil is committed to keeping his mind sharp, and the wealth of information stored in his inner well proves an essential element for survival during his time on the raft. This quotation also nods to the extraordinary hope the men seem to stir up in each other, proving just how important friendship is to staying alive.
