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<em>Phil Kiehl </em>was born at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, December 2, 1881, the eldest child of Frederick and Mary Elizabeth Radcliffe Kiehl. He began his education at Waukesha, Wisconsin, and graduated from the Manitowoc, Wisconsin, High School. By the time he was twelve years old he had made up his mind to go to West Point. When he was about eighteen he read of a competitive examination being held that day in Madison, where he went at once without notifying his parents. He passed high enough to be designated as first alternate and when his principal failed physically, Phil entered the Military Academy on June 11, 1901. During his cadet days he applied himself to his academic and military duties and he graduated No. 43 in a class of one hundred and fourteen in June 1905.</p>
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Phil sought and received assignment to the 13th Cavalry at Fort Riley, Kansas. Later, he was stationed at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, in the Philippines and at San Antonio, Texas, and Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. He was an instructor at the Military Academy in the Department of Modern Languages from 1912 to 1916. Despite his protests Phil spent the World War I years of 1916-1918 in Hawaii, and he returned to the States in 1918 for an eight month stay in Letterman General Hospital. From there he went to the Texas border in April 1919 and served with the Cavalry at Camp McAllen and Camp Mercedes until August 1920 when he transferred to the Ordnance Department as major. His first assignment in his new branch was in command of the Erie Ordnance Reserve Depot, La Carne, Ohio. Later he was Ordnance Officer of the 4th Corps Area, Fort McPherson, Georgia, of the 8th Corps Area at San Antonio, Texas, the 7th Corps Area at Omaha, Nebraska, and at the Field Artillery School.</p>
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His Ordnance assignments included command of San Antonio Arsenal and two tours in command at Benicia Arsenal.</p>
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Phil graduated from a two-year course at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth in 1932. He was then assigned to command the Benicia Arsenal and, in 1940, he was again assigned to that command after five years on the 7th Corps Area staff. He retired as a colonel on March 31, 1942, at his own request after more than forty years’ service. In all his assignments it was characteristic of him that all his duties were carefully and efficiently performed. His long service at Benicia Arsenal resulted in many friends in that vicinity, who provided an exceptionally fine floral tribute for the funeral services.</p>
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Phil was married to Grace Northall Burnett in New York City on June 14, 1905. This union ended in a divorce. A daughter, Mrs. Jane K. Philips, and a grandson, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, survive him. He is also survived by a brother, F. Emmon Kiehl, of Forest Grove, Oregon, and by a sister, Mrs. W. W. Taylor, of Pewaukee, Wisconsin. On March 27, 1922 Phil married Mrs. Eva F. Hall at Fort McPherson, Georgia. She survives him and remains at the family residence in McAllen, Texas. Phil is also survived by her four children: Mrs. Herman F. Meier, of Brownsville, Texas; Mr. Edward A. Hall, of Benicia, California; Mrs. George T. Nolan, also of Benicia, California; and Mr. Justin Hall, with the U. S. Engineers in Japan.</p>
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From 1942-1946 Phil and Eva, his wife, operated a citrus ranch near McAllen, Texas, but they had to give it up when Phil was unable to give it his full attention. In October 1952 he underwent an operation for a malignancy, which was the direct cause of his death on March 30, 1954 in the McAllen Municipal Hospital. Funeral services were conducted in McAllen by the Reverend Eugene Wood and interment was in the San Antonio National Cemetery on Thursday, April 1, 1954, with Chaplain George Conner officiating. Pallbearers included Major General Walter E. Prosser, ‘05; Major General Joseph A. Green, ‘06; Colonel Joseph C. King, ‘06; Colonel Charles A. Lewis, ‘06; Colonel Richard H. Jacob, ‘06; Colonel Kinzie B. Edmuuds, ‘04 and Colonel Carter Reynolds.</p>
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Quiet and unassuming, Phil spoke little, but what he said meant much. He was serious about his work and he had a loyal following of young officers and civilian employees wherever he was stationed. He served his country well.</p>
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<em>—A Classmate</em></p>
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