Description:
Phillip Thau was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1929. His mother came to the US in 1920, and his father was a carpenter who served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I. During World War II, Phillip's family participated in wartime activities like blackouts and collecting scrap metal. His brother served in the Army's postal service in the China-Burma-India Theater.
Phillip attended City College, majoring in education. Phillip was drafted into the Army in 1954 and served in Japan as a safety inspector in an ammunition depot. He experienced some antisemitism and witnessed the occupation's impact on Japanese civilians.
After returning home, Phillip became a teacher and later a principal.
The Rutgers Oral History Archives received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State. In the 2024-2025 cycle, this grant assisted the ROHA staff in making this oral history available to you for your use.