Joseph joined the Navy in 1927 and by the time he retired from the Navy he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. After he retired from active duty he continued his service in the Naval Reserve. While in the Navy he was assigned to Lighter Than Air (Blimps) branch.

He was assigned to the USS Los Angeles (ZR3) Dirigible shortly after he enlisted, The USS Los Angeles was used in the filming of the 1931 movie “Dirigible” directed by Frank Capra, Joseph was part of the crew used in the movie. In 1926, Vice Admiral Charles E. Rosendahl was given command of the USS Los Angeles (ZR3) which was built in 1923–1924 by the Zeppelin company in Friedrichshafen, Germany as war reparation. Morale was low, funding was chronically short, and airships were held in suspicion by a skeptical Congress, other branches of the Navy, and the general public, but Rosendahl's unshakable faith and determination kept the Los Angeles flying and in the public eye. January 1928 the USS Los Angeles made its historical landing on the USS Saratoga aircraft carrier. A video clip of that landing was incorperated into the 1931 movie "Hell Divers" starring Wallace Berry and Clark Gable (his first "starring" movie).

After Joseph’s first discharge he reenlisted and was assigned to the USS Sirius. During WWII (Joseph's third enlishment) he was assigned to Blimp Squadron ZP22, station at N.A.S. Houma, Louisiana. During the war for the coastal defense plan, 10 main airship bases were established on the coasts of the Atlantic (5), Gulf of Mexico (2), and Pacific (3) to escort shipping and search for enemy submarines and mines. Seventeen wooden airship hangars were constructed at these bases to house the Navy's non-rigid airships (mostly K-ships). Overseas, ZP-42 K-ships utilized a German Zeppelin hangar at Santa Cruz, Brazil and ZP-14 K-ships made use of a hangar at Cuers, France which once housed the French Dixumude and the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127). Joseph was later assigned to the USS Arlington and served on until his discharge. After retiring from active duty Joseph continued serving in the Naval Reserve as Chief Petty Officer in the Blimp Squadron. Flying many times to Guantanamo Bay Cuba Naval Base for his two weeks reserve duty each year.

Awards and Medals

World War II Victory Medal

American Campaign Medal

Navy Good Conduct Medal ( awarded by Vice Admiral Charles E. Rosendahl )

Navy Reserve Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medal

Awarded the Aviation Safety Award 1961 as a member pf VS-752 Blimp Squadron. Rank AMSC

Noel Davis Trophy as a officer and member of the crew of ZP-753

Cold War Recognition Award ( Secrectary of Defense James N. Mattis )

AMSC Joseph Phillips