Phillip Prather was born on November 17, 1946, at Fort Scott, Kansas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve on July 31, 1964, and served as a Special Forces Combat Engineer with active duty service from May to November 1965, and September 1967 to February 1968. SP4 Prather entered Warrant Officer Candidate School on November 28, 1969, and he was appointed a Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army at Fort Rucker, Alabama, on November 16, 1970. He then completed OH-6 Cayuse helicopter training at Fort Rucker in December 1970, followed by service as an OH-6 pilot with the 11th Infantry Brigade of the 23rd Infantry Division in South Vietnam from January 1971 until his helicopter was shot down and he was captured and taken as a Prisoner of War on March 8, 1971. After spending 751 days in captivity, CW2 Prather was released during Operation Homecoming on March 27, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado, and was then assigned as a MEDEVAC pilot to the 571st Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance) at Fort Carson, Colorado, from September 1973 to August 1976. During this time, CW3 Prather attended UH-1 Iroquois refresher training at Fort Rucker from September to October 1973, the Rotary-Wing Instrument Course at Fort Rucker from October to December 1973, OH-58 Kiowa helicopter training at Fort Rucker from January to February 1974, and OH-6 Cayuse helicopter training at Fort Rucker in February 1974. CW4 Prather attended the Fixed-Wing Qualification Course at Fort Rucker from September to December 1976, and then the Warrant Officer Advanced Course at Fort Rucker from January to June 1977. He next attended college in Alabama to complete his degree program from June 1977 to March 1978, and then served as a Fixed-Wing pilot with the U.S. Army Readiness Region VIII Flight Detachment in Aurora, Colorado, from April 1978 to August 1983. CW4 Prather attended Engineer Equipment Technician training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, from December 1983 to August 1984, and he served as an Engineer Equipment Repair Technician with the Maintenance Garrison at Fort Carson, Colorado, from August 1984 until his retirement from the Army on February 1, 1990. Phillip Prather Flew West on November 20, 1997, and was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Wichita, Kansas.

His Bronze Star Medal Citation reads:

For meritorious service in ground operations against hostile forces: Chief Warrant Officer Phillip D. Prather distinguished himself by meritorious service while held Prisoner of War in Southeast Asia during the period 9 March 1971 to 27 March 1973. His ceaseless efforts to conduct himself strictly in accord with the Code of Conduct and policies of the prisoner organization in the difficult conditions of a communist prisoner clearly demonstrated his loyalty, love of country and professionalism. By his unselfish dedication to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Army.