Bob Phillips’ blood runs red, white and blue. There’s much more to him than his motorcycle and leather vest. He’s a member of the Rolling Thunder, a Patriot Guard rider, and a United States Army veteran.

He’s spent a lot of time on his motorcycle as a Patriot Guard rider, escorting those who didn’t return from their military duty and remembering those who did.

Like many of the riders, Phillips is a Vietnam veteran, serving with the 101st Airborne Division from 1970-72. Phillips had just graduated from Hampton High School when he volunteered for the draft. He had received a couple of football scholarships, but his number was coming up in the draft lottery. Thus, he laid down his football and took up an M16 machine gun.

“I had a friend, Dennis Barnette, who was a paratrooper and I admired him so much. Also, my dad was a highly decorated soldier in World War II. They both influenced my decision to serve my country as a soldier,” said Phillips.

Although he only served two months and 14 days in Vietnam before being wounded and sent back to the states, “it was enough to last a lifetime.”

He spent time in Walter Reed Hospital before being sent to Fort Jackson, S.C., and Fort Knox, Ky., to finish his tour of duty.

“I was working as an MP on a convoy when we were ambushed. I was wounded. I don’t talk about Vietnam much, because too many didn’t make it home, and what I saw and experienced in that short time was hell,” Phillips said.

Phillips, who has been treated for PTSD, admits to being a hell raiser for many years after coming home. “I sorta lost my way for a while,” he said.

He has been a member of both the Johnson City Rolling Thunder and the Patriot Riders for about two years. He serves as Ride Captain for the Tri-Cities Patriot Riders.

Why does he do it?

“I came back from Vietnam alive. I can’t imagine what it would have been like for my family to have come back in a body bag. It is a very heart rendering moment to stand on a flag line for a veteran, and even a first responder or law officer, who has served his community and nation,” said Phillips.

When he first joined the Army and began basic training, Phillips said more than once he thought “what have I got myself into. It wasn’t what I wanted to do when I finished high school. I wanted to play football. But, I didn’t have a choice when I saw my draft number.”

Phillips was wounded when riding on a jeep with a mounted machine gun about 15 miles from the DMZ of N. Vietnam. “Our convoy was hit hard, and we weren’t very well trained,” he said in a dismissive tone.

The Carter County veteran said he got into Rolling Thunder and the Patriot Guard when he saw this Westborough Church from somewhere in the Midwest protesting at veterans’ funerals. I wanted to counteract that ugly act in some way. The honorable thing is to be there to support the family, to pay tribute to the man or woman, who has served their country. We’re an organization that stands between the family and those protestors and anyone that is protesting,” he said.

Memorial Day, this year, Phillips for the first time rode to Washington, D.C., with the Rolling Thunder. “It was an awesome experience and was very touching to visit the Vietnam Veterans Wall. It was a very humbling experience to visit the wall and to see all the names inscribed on it, men who died from their battle wounds, who never came home. I have some friends, whose names are on that wall. In many ways it helped me. I think it was a healing process for me,” he shared.

In the years since Vietnam, Phillips has found peace as well as a purpose, and this is why he rides his trike motorcycle to the funerals of veterans. “It’s just a real honor to be able to escort a veteran to his final resting place. It’s the honorable thing to do,” said Phillips.

“We didn’t get a lot of honor and respect when we came back and we feel like veterans and all of the military personnel deserve all of the honor and respect they can get,” he added.

Members of the Patriot Guard Riders volunteer their time to stand at attention and carry the American flag as members of the military are deployed, return home or are buried.

“One of the mottos of the group is, ‘We stand for those who stood for us,’” said Phillips. Most of the members served in the military, but service is not required. Most of the members ride motorcycles to the events known as “missions,” but that’s not required either.

“The only requirement is you love your country,” said Phillips.

“We may not have all worn the same uniform, but are all brothers and sisters in the military and everyone is important,” Phillips said.