Spc. Philip Schiller Fallen Hero's Funeral Services
April 24, 2012 Dallas, TX, Army Spc. Philip C.S. Schiller, was laid to rest with full Military Honors at the DFW National Cemetery.
He was a 2010 graduate of The Colony High School — died April 11, 2012 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, while defending his unit despite his own mortal chest wound.
Relatives of troop members who were in the battle told his family that Spc. Schiller continued to provide machine gun cover for his unit during an enemy attack. He received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his actions.
Spc. Schiller was born in Hartford, Conn., and grew up in nearby Barkhamsted. In 2009 he moved to The Colony to live with his sister, Courtney Schiller. "My brother was a fun-loving person and wanted to always help everyone in every way he could," his sister was quoted in a local paper, and said. "He was my best friend."
She talked to her brother by telephone six days before he was killed.
He had visited North Texas last month, before his deployment.
During his senior year at The Colony High School, Spc. Schiller participated in JROTC. Spc. Schiller enlisted a few weeks after he graduated from high school and completed basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., in August 2010. He was assigned to the Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., that fall and was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2012.
He joined the Army ... because he wanted to be a police officer when he got out. That was his dream," his sister said.
In addition to his sister, Spc. Schiller is survived by his mother, Robin Larsen of Dallas; his father, Erik Schiller of Winsted, Conn.; and three grandparents.
Army Funeral Music: US Army Hymn- God of our Father Hymn to the Fallen My God Nearer to Thee
Information and Video by Jerry Castillo / USFallen.org