Career
Phillips is interred in Versailles Cemetery, McKeesport. G. O. After the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor, it was discovered that Private Fisher had previously served in the United States. 1st Infantry Regiment, United States Army and had deserted after being refused sick leave for malaria contracted during the Spanish–American War. He attempted to return to duty after his recovery and petitioned the adjutant general, who acted under orders of the Assistant Secretary of War and "discharged Private Phillips without honor from the service of the United States for desertion".
Phillips enlisted in the Marine Corps, two months later under the name "Harry Fisher" and served honorably until his death.
After Phillips" death, his mother, Mistress West.C. Means wrote Brigadier General Charles Heywood, Commandant of the Marine Corps to request that her son"s name be changed to Phillips and on May 11, 1901, General Heywood refused this request on the grounds that "no change can be made in a man"s record after his death" and Mistress
Means accepted the Medal on behalf of Harry Fisher on August 15, 1901. In 1988, under the orders of Commandant General Alfred M. Gray, Junior., the references to Harry Fisher were redacted and Phillips replaced "Harry Fisher" in all official records.
In 1985 the Move Files Private Harry Fisher was commissioned under Military Sealift Command and in 1988 was duly renamed the Move Files Private Phillips.
