Guest Opinion | Phil Hosp: An Insight and Measure of Character

Every Veterans Day, the City of Pasadena pauses to remember the service and sacrifice of those who have answered our nation’s call and worn the uniforms of the Armed Forces of the United States. And with that remembrance comes the recognition that their dedication to the greater good was not over with the end of their active duty. Upon returning home, America’s Military Veterans continue to volunteer to serve our communities.

One of these Veterans is Phil Hosp, a candidate for District 7 of the Pasadena City Council. We know Phil very well as we had the pleasure of serving with him on Pasadena’s Veterans Day program this past November.

When the terrorists struck New York City on September 11, 2001, Phil Hosp was a college student, attending Boston University on an ROTC Scholarship. The following May, he was commissioned as a Tank Officer in the US Army and assigned to the 3d Infantry Division. In March of 2003, just weeks after his graduation from Officers Candidate School, Phil was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He arrived in Kuwait during the time of the capture of PFC Jessica Lynch and volunteered to lead a supply column to Baghdad, and participated in security operations in Baghdad and Fallujah.

In January 2005, Phil returned a second time to Iraq as a Battalion Support Platoon Leader with the 64th Armor Regiment. He was responsible for 31 non-commissioned officers and 43 soldiers, leading them in combat operations. In April 2005, he became the Executive Officer of C Company, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, the second in command of an Armor Company. He led over 150 Iraqi and American Soldiers based at Camp Rustamiyah in combat operations.

On September 1, 2005, Phil was promoted to Captain. His Officer Evaluation Report of October 2005 states: “Hosp has been without question the absolute best company executive officer in the course of extended combat operations in East Baghdad, Iraq. He has led his men with great bravery.”

Phil left the military in May 2006 to attend law school. His DD 214, the Certificate of Release from Active Duty, lists numerous decorations he received, including the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal. It also notes that while his place of entry into active duty in 2002 was Boston, Massachusetts, his home-town of record was Pasadena, California.

After graduating law school and becoming an attorney, Phil has returned home with his wife and children to raise his family in Pasadena, the same city in which he grew up. He volunteered to serve his country in wartime and has volunteered to serve his community on the Pasadena City Council. The leadership Phil demonstrated in Iraq under the most adverse of circumstances reveals great insight into his character and fitness to serve as an elected public official.

Phil Hosp is a person of outstanding character and integrity. We are truly fortunate that he has stepped forward as a candidate in this election. District 7 and the City of Pasadena will be very well-served and will benefit tremendously from Phil’s leadership.