michael e. phillips graduated from ardmore high school in 2006. at ardmore high, specialist phillips ac selled in both academics and athletics, playing football, track and cross country. he loved history as well as drawing and was so talented he was offered admission to the san francisco art institute. instead, however, specialist phillips felt the calling to serve his country. he said he wanted to join the army, they got in the car and went down to the recruiting institution. specialist phillips enlisted in the army in 2006 and was assigned to the arm yeas first battalion, 502nd infantry rentalmen, 101 air division based in fort campbell, kentucky. tragically on february 24, 2008, specialist phillips was killed when the vehicle he was riding in was hit by an improvised explosive device in baghdad. he was 19 years old. he left behind his parents, angela and steve, as well as two younger brothers and a younger sister. as a representative from oklahoma, it is an honor to stand before this body and pay tribute to a fellow oklahoman who made the ultima