Phillip Sturgeon
Christopher White Memorial Fellow
Phillip D. Sturgeon Jr. was born in 1974 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He is a graduate of Sikeston Senior High School in Sikeston, Missouri, and he entered active duty in 1991 in the U.S Air Force Security Police K-9 Division. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1997, he transferred to the Army Reserve.
Phillip was assigned to the 301st Combat Support Hospital where he trained as a combat engineer at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. He also cross-trained for the position of combat field medic. In November 2003 Phillip deployed to Iraq with the 458th Engineer Battalion from Indiana, Pennsylvania.
Phillip served as a medic during combat. His main duty station was Camp Victory near Baghdad. He spent nine months there before he was wounded. Phillip's patrol was ambushed, and the vehicle in which he was riding was struck with a rocket propelled grenade. Phillip suffered injuries to his back, neck, shoulder, and knee. He was also diagnosed with post traumatic stress and a traumatic brain injury.
Phillip was evacuated to Landstuhl, Germany, and spent a month there receiving treatment for his many injuries. Phillip returned for continued treatment at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. In January 2006, SPC Sturgeon was honorably discharged from the Army Reserve, yet he has since undergone surgeries on his right wrist to remove shrapnel and on his neck to repair ruptured discs. Phillip still pushes forward everyday to overcome his disabilities to live a full and normal life.
In April 2009, Phillip was awarded a full Mission Continues Fellowship to work with Support Dogs. Phillip will care for and train a dog that will become a service dog for a disabled individual. Phillip will be working closely with professional trainers, as well as utilizing the skills and expertise he has developed from working with animals as a civilian and in the military.
Phillip will be completing his Fellowship in honor of Pfc Christopher White, USMC. Christopher lost his life in Iraq in June 2006.
Phillip's Fellowship was made possible by support from Mr. Nick Sansone of St. Louis, Missouri.
Read Phillip's thoughts on his Fellowship and service.
Learn more about Mission Continues Fellowships.
Read about other current Fellows.
