Central Area in Salem in Marion County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Claire Maybelle Phillips

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 14, 2025

1. Claire Maybelle Phillips Marker

Inscription. A Portland actress and singer, Phillips was working in Manila when the Imperial Japanese Army invaded the Philippines in December, 1941. After the surrender of American and Filipino forces in May of 1942, Phillips became a leader in the underground resistance and ran a Manila nightclub catering to Japanese military officers. From them she gained considerable intelligence for the war effort and money for operations. Continually risking her life, she smuggled food, medicine, letters and war news for nearly two years to sick and starving American prisoners of war and civilian internees held in prison camps and jails.

After her arrest by enemy secret police in May, 1944 Phillips was tortured, tried by a military court and sentenced to death as a spy. She was liberated from the Correctional Institution for Women during the Battle of Manila in February, 1945 by United states Army 1st Cavalry Rangers.

In 1948 Phillips was decorated with the Medal of Freedom by General Mark Clark. The citation read in part, “Mrs. Phillips, by her inspiring bravery and devotion to the cause of freedom, made a distinct contribution to the welfare

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and morale of American prisoners of war.”

Phillips was also honored by the Department of State, Oregon Governor Douglas McKay and Portland Mayor Dorothy McCullough Lee for her service and heroism. The Hollywood feature film “I was an American Spy” was based on Phillips’ memoir of her wartime experiences. Phillips passed away in Portland on May 22, 1960.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • War, World II • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.

Location. 44° 56.37′ N, 123° 1.996′ W. Memorial is in Salem, Oregon, in Marion County. It is in the Central Area. It is on Cottage Street Northeast, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 190 Cottage Street NE, Salem OR 97301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Oregon Wine Country

and in the Willamette Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 14, 2025

2. Claire Maybelle Phillips Marker

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Oregon Spirit of ‘45 (a few steps from this marker); Moon Tree (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Salem First United Methodist Church (about 600 feet away); Marking an Old Trail (about 600 feet away); Salem’s Theatrical History (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Trustees of Oregon Institute (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bligh Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Grand Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salem.

Also see . . .
1. Claire Phillips Memorial.

The Claire Phillips Memorial recognizes a stage actress and singer for her heroism as a spy and humanitarian during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. Phillips, a stage actress and singer who grew up in Portland, ran a nightclub for enemy personnel in occupied Manila. She secretly used the profits to buy and smuggle food and medicine to starving American soldiers in Japanese prisons. Convicted of espionage and sentenced to die, Army Rangers rescued her during Manila’s
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 14, 2025

3. Claire Maybelle Phillips Marker
View of the marker looking towards the World War II memorial in the backgrond.
1945 liberation.

(Submitted on October 29, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)

2. Claire Maybelle Phillips (1907-1960).

Claire Phillips was a Portland stage actress and singer noted for heroism as a spy and humanitarian during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. An author and activist, she was the recipient of the Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian wartime decoration.

(Submitted on October 29, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)

Claire Maybelle Phillips image. Click for full size.

The Oregon Encyclopedia

4. Claire Maybelle Phillips

Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 58 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 29, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.